LASTMA Attack: Female Tricycle Operator Battles For Life

Sunday Akintoye

A female tricycle operator in Lagos, Remi Johnson, is currently fighting for her life at the Federal Road Safety Commission hospital at Ojodu, Lagos following an attack by a LASTMA official.

P.M.NEWS gathered that Johnson, a widow and mother of two, was attacked by an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority for pleading on behalf of her brother, Smart Ofariko, who was arrested at Ogba-Ojodu road for obstructing traffic on Wednesday.

Investigations revealed that Ofariko was arrested by LASTMA officials for parking his tricycle at Aguda Bus Stop to receive a phone call.

Narrating the incident to P.M.NEWS, Ofariko explained that he called Johnson when he was asked to pay N5,000 by the LASTMA officials. He denied obstructing traffic, saying that he parked his tricycle at a bus stop to receive his call.

Remi Johnson in hospital

When Johnson arrived, one of the LASTMA officials identified as Mr. Raimi Odukoya attached to Ojodu zone, asked her not to intervene in the matter and allegedly pushed her and she fell down, hitting her head on the floor.

She passed out and was rushed to the FRSC hospital along Ojodu-Berger Road by the LASTMA officials.

“My sister would have died but I thank God that the nurses on duty saved her life,” Ofariko stated during a visit to the hospital with our correspondent.

When contacted, Head of Public Relations Unit of LASTMA, Bola Ajao, said Johnson was not pushed or attacked by LASTMA officials as alleged.

She explained that Johnson collapsed when she was asked to pay a certain amount of money before her impounded tricycle would be released to her for preventing LASTMA officials from performing their duty.

“When I called LASTMA officers at Ojodu-Berger, they told me that Mrs. Johnson was not pushed but collapsed after being told to pay a certain amount of money before she could collect her impounded tricycle,” Ajao explained on phone.

Reacting to the incident, Chairman, Duact Accord Business Limited, the franchise operator for tricycle operators in Ojodu, Akeem Adebeso, expressed shock over the manner the widow was treated by LASTMA officials.

“We have reported the matter at the Ojodu Police Station. We can no longer tolerate the excesses of LASTMA officials in Ojodu. We want Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to intervene in this matter. Our members are always harassed by LASTMA officials and it is time to stop it,” he said.

Join The Conversation

15 Comments

NIJ says:

July 12, 2015 at 3:10 am

The story does not confirm with the tenets if news writting. Lacks where, Who, When, What, Which an How…Oops

ojodu says:

July 12, 2015 at 3:05 am

Pm news. Please be more professional. Your organization is not a police station. Enlighten the public to do the right thing rather than hooking up cheap emotion. The story lacks merit and not tight. Its too loose to be true.
Lastma are doing wonderful jobs in Lagos and cant castigate them becos of some few bad ones. The marwa operator should do the right thing and put thr house in order.

princess says:

July 11, 2015 at 9:37 pm

I can smell rats. Ths is a half baked story. The woman shd press charges againt her assaulted instead of using cgeap publicity. Pm news reporters are not professionals and dud nit complete the investigation b4 rushing to the press.
Journalism shd be balance and obhective. This story from the professional angle lacjs merit.
By niw the so call culoruts shd be in cell. Its two different issyes. Assaukt and traffic offence. It shoukd be separated. The trycircle commited an offence and should face the music and the lady should go to court to seek redress if she hs a good case.
Enough of bastardising journalism with buased and cheap stories

jadesola says:

July 11, 2015 at 9:29 pm

Blatant lies. My attention was drawn to ths story by my son. I was one of the nurses that attended to ths woman. She said she was in shock as a result of the 50k ticket written for her and asked us to be begging the Lastma people for her .
the journalist lied. She was discharged immediately after her condition stabilised an even the police men were asked to beg and intervened on her behalf.
Our clinic must not be included in this mess up. The press man did a shabby job as d clinic is a staff clinic and not hospital as claimed.
we must not lie to run people down or to sell our papers

babalola says:

July 11, 2015 at 9:16 pm

We should becareful on what we read an especially on junk newspapers. The case should be btween the police an d officers an not been celebrated on pages of newspaper.

omoluabi says:

July 11, 2015 at 5:32 am

How can a Remi Johnson be a sister to a Smart Ofariko? By the way, that woman looks like someone having a siesta rather than struggling with her life at hospital. This news lacks substance.

Jax says:

July 11, 2015 at 1:35 am

What of the court order that lastma does not have power to collect money? Lagos government, is simply because of your excesses that APC is having a questionable slim victory in Lagos. His excellenecy, caution you boys.

DAT says:

July 10, 2015 at 7:16 pm

This matter should be investigated and the culprits brought to book. However, LASTMA PRO should be relieved of his/her job with immediate effect. There are some lies one should not told. It would have been better if he/she says he is yet to get full details on the incidence rather than this blatant lie.

jd says:

July 10, 2015 at 7:13 pm

Bola Ajao relied on lies she was told by his men, they should pray that this woman will not end up with brain damage or death.She should consider herself to be in Remi Johnson’s shoes.

tboy says:

July 10, 2015 at 6:38 pm

C all dis lastman dey her all thieves.

jim says:

July 10, 2015 at 5:49 pm

Look at the comment of LASTMA PRO.
She heard the amount which she was asked or charged to pay and collapsed. Shame on you Mr or Mrs P.R.O. How can you make such stupid comment, Has she not seen huge amount of money before even at the Banking Halls and yet didn’t collapse, why now in your office? Better pray that nothing beyond her LASTMA inflicted pain and injuries happens to her,then you people will see Lagosians retaliating on her behalf. Yeye LASTMA.

uzo says:

July 10, 2015 at 5:21 pm

LASTMA kwa?… These guys must really think they are gods.

emmanuel says:

July 10, 2015 at 5:21 pm

Why would transport operators not Attack Lastma men on the road? Imagine if this woman had died, na this cheap story we for hear. APC bastards. Na true she fainted because she was asked to pay N5,000.00.

Omachoko Joseph says:

July 10, 2015 at 5:19 pm

The head of LASTMA public relations is a big liar. How could someone collapse because you ask her to pay certain fine?
Una no dey fear God?

asebiomo says:

July 10, 2015 at 5:02 pm

Thank God she is alive. The excesses of the tricycle riders on the road is terrifying. Infact they should be replaced with the small shuttle buses. They are worse than okada self