LASTMA reacts to appeal court injunction against imposition of fine by its agency

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has clarified its stance on the ruling of the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos that fines imposed on motorists by the Agency are illegal.

Reacting to the judgment, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olawale Musa explained that LASTMA does not and will never commit any illegality in violation of the Law while discharging its duties.

Musa maintained that LASTMA as a law-abiding institution had always complied with the ruling delivered by the Fed High Court on September 16, 2011, by issuing offenders a referral notice for appearance in Court, stating the specified fines and penalties.

The General Manager further stressed that “No LASTMA official has the power to impose fine on any traffic offender without recourse to the court which then pronounces judgment on the matter.”

He hinted that some motorists, who accepted guilt for their offence and were apprehensive of facing court action, on their own volition opted to pay the stipulated fines to avoid penalties that could result from further inspection of their vehicles.