Traffic offenders lament over forfeited vehicles in Lagos

Caught by the Lagos state environmental and enforcement and special offences unit (taskforce) in February as he was driving through Agege motor road in his Toyota Corolla, Salisu, an Uber driver didn’t envisage that he would spend seven days in jail and forfeit his car.

On September 15, Salisu, alongside other bidders, paid N2,000 as a registration fee to attend, inspect and bid at the auction conducted by CRlimited Auction House at the taskforce yard.

To his dismay, when his car was up for auction, bidders took turns to make offers for his Toyota Corolla till the gavel hit the ground at the call of N1.9 million – a bid he could not outmatch.

Panting and covered in sweat, Salisu was among the traffic offenders that broke down in tears as he struggled with the reality of ultimately losing his car.

Speaking with TheCable on Friday, Salisu said he got the car on a hire purchase, adding that it’s the only source of income for his family.

He said since the vehicle has been seized he has been borrowing to feed amid the harsh reality of Nigeria’s economy.

The Uber driver admitted that he committed an offence of driving against the traffic, adding that he also regretted resisting arrest.

“I was arrested for driving through one-way on the Agege motor road. Out of anxiety, I struggled with the task force officials and when I was taken to court,” he said.

“I was jailed for seven days for struggling with the officers and my car was forfeited for driving on one way by the court.”

According to the Lagos state transport sector reform law 2018, driving against traffic attracts one-year imprisonment and forfeiture of the vehicle for a first-time offender.

“Driving in a direction prohibited by the law/neglect of traffic directions attracts forfeiture of vehicles of the state,” the law states.

“Ist offender – 1 (one) year imprisonment and forfeiture of the vehicle to the state. 2nd offender- 3 (three) years imprisonment, forfeiture of the vehicle to the state and capturing of data and biometrics.”

Afeez Azeez, another offender, whose minibus was ferried by the taskforce after he drove through the BRT lane at Iyana Oba, Mile 2, said he drove against traffic because of the ongoing repair on the express road.

He said it’s now more than a year since his car has been forfeited, adding that life has been unbearable for him since he lost the car to the state.

“They were repairing the express road and everybody was taking the one way including the army. But only people like me who don’t have influence were arrested. When the taskforce who we heard were on anti-one way operation came out, I was arrested alongside a friend of mine but the army that drove on the same road wasn’t arrested,” he said.

“My friend who we were both arrested saw his car taken by another person who bid for it yesterday. I’m happy to have my vehicle back.”

Meanwhile, Azeez was one of the offenders who got sympathy from bidders and was allowed to part with his minibus for N250, 000.

Speaking at the auction of forfeited and abandoned vehicles, which was held at the taskforce yard on September 15, Shola Jejeloye, chairman of the Lagos taskforce, said motorists should not evade courts if they are arrested over traffic violations.

He said offenders should not bother visiting taskforce offices for resolution, adding that the power to impound vehicles resides with the courts.