Journalist Knocks N100m Suit On LASTMA Over Rights Violations

Osa Director, a seasoned journalist, has filed a N100 million lawsuit against the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) in the state high court located in Ikeja, alleging that his fundamental rights were violated.

In the lawsuit with the ID number ID/16108MFHR/2023, the attorney Director seeks damages for the harm he endured when LASTMA agents took his vehicle.

Along with that, he asked the court to order the agency to return the $1,700 that was seized from his car and the Samsung Galaxy handset that went missing.

The applicant stated in an affidavit submitted with the lawsuit that on August 24, 2023, two LASTMA officials ambushed, took his car, and drove him to an undisclosed location with the assistance of two thugs wearing police uniforms.

He also claimed that his Ford Edge SUV had been impounded and held in LASTMA’s custody at one of their parking lots ever since that day.

The applicant said, “When the vehicle was taken from him, the sum of $1,700, an A52 Samsung Galaxy handset and other valuables, such as perfume and hand sanitisers were inside the vehicle.

“After writing a petition dated August 25, 2023, he was invited to LASTMA head office on Monday, October 4, 2023, after he returned from Abuja where he attended the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Conference.

“At the head office of LASTMA, the provost marshal expressed shock and disappointment at the level of indiscipline exhibited by his officers, stating such is not tolerated by the authority.

“The provost marshal, however, insisted on both parties to visit the locus in quo (scene of the incident/crime) and also where the vehicle was parked.

“Unfortunately, the sum of $1,700 and the A52 Samsung Galaxy handset were no longer in the vehicle at the time of the visit. The vehicle search by both parties was video recorded by LASTMA.