Demian Aluya, a Lagos resident, has called an officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) his ‘Man of the Year’ for helping him recover N50,000 unjustly collected from him by extortive officers of the agency.
In a Twitter thread on Friday, Aluya narrated how LASTMA officials had demanded N150,000 to release his vehicle seized in the Mile 2 area of Lagos State on Thursday. He got back his car after making a payment of N50,000, and then informed the Oshodi office of the agency via a phone number he found online.
“On our way to work yesterday, we were arrested by lASTMA officials at Mile 2. They drove my vehicle to their office at Oshodi. After spending two hours at Oshodi, they unjustly collected N50,000 from us and released our vehicle. They started by asking for N150,000,” he said.
“Getting to the office, since I knew no one in LASTMA, I went to the Internet and Google LASTMA hotline. I got some numbers and called the number attached to Oshodi and Mr. Azeez picked. I narrated my experience to him. He was very livid on the phone, and he requested for my vehicle number, type and colour.”
@followlastma @Gidi_Traffic @bellanaija @jidesanwoolu @followlasg @UnclePamilerin @aproko_doctor @Rene_noire @wakawaka_doctor, on our way to work yesterday, we were arrested by lastma officials at mile2, they drove my vehicle to there office at oshodi.
— Demian Aluya (@angeldee26) April 30, 2021
Few hours after speaking with him on phone, Azeez, the LASTMA boss, invited Aluya to his office and ordered a refund of his money.
“I got to his office at about 4:20pm. He patiently waited for me. I introduced myself and told him my story all over again. He invited one of the officers in and asked me if I recognized the police officer. I said yes,” Aluya continued.
“He asked the police officer if I was lying. The officer said no. He asked him again if they collected 50k from me. He said yes. Mr. Azeez was mad. He apologized to me on behalf of the management of LASTMA and instructed the officer to go bring the N50,000.”
Read Also: Frustrated Tricycle Rider ‘Strips Naked, Fetches Cutlass’ in Protest Against LASTMA
While praising the LASTMA boss, Aluya said he still could not believe it was happening in Nigeria hours after getting back his money.
“For over two hours, I was in disbelief. Mr. Azeez is a Nigerian with a difference,” he said.
“He has renewed my hope and belief that we still have good people in this country. Mr. Azeez, LASTMA controller, Oshodi, you are a man with the heart of gold. God will continue to bless and keep you.”
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