Lagos Taskforce arraigns ‘fake’ task officer for impersonation

The Lagos State Task Force, led by its chairman, CSP Adetayo Akerele, on Friday, arraigned a ‘fake’ Task officer, Joseph Unosolease, before the State Special Offences Court sitting in Oshodi, Lagos, for an alleged impersonation, extortion, and conduct likely to breach public peace.

The suspect was apprehended following a complaint lodged by the traditional ruler of Otumara, Apapa road and Ojo-oniyun community, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye, on Monday at the State Headquarters of the Agency.

The charge read, “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.

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That you, on the 23rd 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 committing an offence punishable under section 78 of the criminal laws of Lagos State 2015.

That you, on the 23rd 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.”

The suspect 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 lends credence to the zero tolerance of the Lagos State Government to criminality and crimes.

“Having said this, I want to call for the arrest of other members of the group because the arrested suspect, Unosolease, wasn’t the only person who committed the offence. Other members of the group are possibly 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.”