The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has said it will arraign an alleged serial impersonator for collecting N140,000 from owners of vehicles impounded for traffic infractions.

The suspect was also said to be making about N250,000 weekly from illegal deals.

This is according to LASTMA spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, who, in a Tuesday statement, noted the suspect was apprehended by the monitoring and surveillance team of the agency at Oshodi.

He added that the suspect, Femi Adegbemi, 56, was apprehended after the agency received complaints of extortions from owners of inter-state commercial buses, impounded and ticketed for traffic infractions around Moshalasi by Alaka area of Surulere.

“The arrested suspect collected N140,000 from owners/drivers by promising to help them get their impounded vehicles released from the agency’s custody.

“It is disheartening getting complaints from road users, particularly owners of impounded vehicles on activities of these unscrupulous elements impersonating and extorting money from them.

“He (the suspect) confessed that he collected N140,000 from owners of the impounded inter-state commercial vehicles.

“Adegbemi, who also confirmed to be living at 9, Anifowose Street, Somolu, confessed further to be making an average of N250,000 every week from the illegal deal with his other colleagues,” the statement added.

Mid-January, LASTMA in an enforcement operation impounded 30 vehicles for illegal parking at Apongbon and Glover Road, Ikoyi area of Lagos.

Adebayo noted that the enforcement actions were conducted following the directive of the state governor’s Special Adviser on Transportation, Sola Giwa.