Lagos Impounds 68 Motorcycles, Sentences 14 Okadamen To 10-Hr Community Service

Operatives of Lagos State Task Force, yesterday, impounded 68 commercial motorcycles and arraigned 14 operators over illegal and criminal activities.The 14 were then sentenced to 10-hour

community service each at government (public) facilities.The operation was carried out in the early hours around 2nd Rainbow and Mile 2 area of Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.Chairman of the agency, SP Olayinka Egbeyemi, disclosed that illegal activities of the motorcycle operators and report of criminal activities against innocent members of the public prompted the actions of the agency.He stated that suspects were indiscriminately plying restricted routes and robbing innocent members of the public of their valuables such as mobile phones, bags and wristwatches.The Chairman added that Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012 by Scheduled 1, Item 22 restricted motorcycle operators from plying 375 roads, which includes highways and bridges, across the state.Egbeyemi noted that reports made to his office indicated that after the day’s work, the ubiquitous okadamen engage in criminal activities, robbing citizens particularly at Amuwo-Odofin area.He confirmed that 14 of them were arraigned before Magistrate Lateef Owolabi of the Lagos State Mobile Court on the directives of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni.Meanwhile, the 14 pleaded guilty after prosecuting lawyers, Adedoyin Odukoya and Ajibola Olumide, read the one-count charge of “riding motorcycles on prohibited routes as against Schedule (1), Item 22 of the Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012” to them.Immediately after their plea was taken, Magistrate Lateef Owolabi confiscated the 68 impounded motor-cycles and sentenced them to a “10-hour community service” each at government (public) facilities.