- No ₦250,000 Bribe Collected, Lagos Taskforce Denies Extortion Claim
- Blames Misinformation
- According to the Taskforce, pressure from individuals seeking waivers for seized vehicles has led to coordinated online attacks
The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Enforcement Unit has denied allegations circulating online that its officers extorted ₦250,000 from a motorist during an enforcement operation in the Ijesha area of Lagos State.
Eko Hot Blog reports that in a statement, the agency described the claim as “false, malicious, and unsubstantiated,” urging the public to disregard the viral report.
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The statement was issued by the Director of Public Affairs, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, on behalf of the Chairman, CSP Tayo Akerele.
The allegation, which gained traction on social media, claimed that Taskforce officials towed a vehicle from Ijesha and demanded a ₦250,000 bribe before releasing it.
However, the agency insisted that no such operation took place, stating that no vehicle was towed from the area to its yard in Alausa.
According to the Taskforce, the vehicle owner in question has also confirmed that the car is not in its custody. It added that available evidence, including the receipt referenced in the report, suggests the involvement of a different enforcement body, possibly linked to abandoned vehicle operations.
The agency further criticised what it described as misleading and unethical reporting, warning against attempts to damage its reputation without proper verification.
It also linked recent criticisms to its strict enforcement of the state’s ban on commercial motorcycles, popularly known as okada, on restricted routes.
According to the Taskforce, pressure from individuals seeking waivers for seized vehicles has led to coordinated online attacks.
Reaffirming its stance, the agency stated that it would not compromise its enforcement standards, noting that releasing impounded vehicles outside due process would undermine public safety and the rule of law.
