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August 29, 2025 by Our Reporter
The Lagos State Task Force, led by its chairman CSP Adetayo Akerele, on Friday arraigned a man, Joseph Unosolease, before the State Special Offences Court in Oshodi for alleged impersonation, extortion, and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace.
He was arrested after a complaint was lodged by the traditional ruler of Otumara, Apapa Road, and Ojo-Oniyun community, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye, at the agency’s state headquarters on Monday.
According to the charge sheet, “That on the 23rd of August, 2025, at approximately 1400hrs along Bolade, Oshodi, in the Lagos Magisterial District, you conducted yourself in a manner likely to cause breach of public peace and thereby committed an offence.”
*That you on the 23 of August, 2025, at about 1400hrs along Bolade, Arena, Oshodi in Lagos Magisterial district did impersonate as a public officer by representing yourself as an officer of the Lagos State Task Force thereby committed an offence punishable under the section 78 of the criminal laws of Lagos state 2015.
*That you on the 23 of August, 2025, at about 1400hrs along Bolade, Oshodi in Lagos Magisterial district did unlawfully obtain the sum of N20, 000 from one High Chief Kalejaiye Kehinde and thereby committed an offence punishable under the state criminal law.”
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The suspect, however, pleaded guilty to the three-count charge.
Chief Magistrate F. Adefioye adjourned further hearing and conviction to September 16, 2025.
Making his case during the hearing, the suspect claimed he was a LASTMA officer before his contract was terminated in 2020.
According to him, despite his disengagement from the service of LASTMA, the traffic agency called for his service whenever the need arises.
Kalejaiye commended the swift response and timely prosecution of the suspect by the Akerele-led Task Force.
He, however, called for the arrest of other members of the six-member extortion syndicate and the seizure of the towing vehicle which was used to tow his car.
He said, “I commend the swift response of the chairman of the Lagos State Task Force, CSP Adetayo Akerele for thoroughly investigating, arresting and prosecuting the suspects.
“This lend credence to the zero tolerance of Lagos State Government to criminality and crimes.
“Having said this, I want to call for the arrest of other members of the group particularly those police officers from the State Traffic Department in Ikeja that aided the nefarious activities. The arrested suspect, Unosolease wasn’t the only person that committed the offence.
“There are other members of the group who possibly are at large. I also want to call for the impoundment of the towing vehicle that was used to perpetrate the crime. This will serve as a deterrent to others who might be considering engaging in such criminal ways of earning money.”
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