No directive to return seized vehicles in Taskforce custody to owners ― Egbeyemi

Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit (Taskforce) said it has not been directed to return all seized vehicles in its custody to their respective owners in the state.

The agency said this on Monday in a release issued by the office of its chairman, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, in reaction to an online report alleging that the Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has directed that all seized vehicles in its custody be returned to their respective owners.

Egbeyemi, in the release, refuted the claim made by the online media that the directive was a follow up to a memo he sent to the governor seeking for his approval to auction all seized vehicles in order to create space for new ones.

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Egbeyemi maintained that he was not aware of the purported memo neither did he receive any directive to release impounded vehicles from the governor, saying it was irresponsible and mischievous for any individual to insinuate that Governor Sanwo-Olu would give such order.

“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is conscious of the provisions contained in the 2018 Amended Traffic Law as it relates to the duties of the Taskforce and will never make pronouncements contrary to the provisions of the law,” he said.

While noting that Transportation and Traffic Management played prominent roles in the present administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S agenda, the Taskforce boss recalled that the governor had on numerous platforms stated unequivocally that should members of his family or cabinet run foul of the traffic laws or violate them, “they shall equally face the consequences of such acts.”

Egbeyemi, therefore, implored the general public, particularly owners of such impounded vehicles, to ignore and disregard the fake news designed to confuse and mislead them into not complying with a court order on such vehicles in the custody of the agency.