Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo on Wednesday in Benin directed the arrest of two members of staff of the disbanded Edo State Traffic Management Agency (EDSTMA) for fraud.
Oshiomhole gave the directive when he paid a surprise visit to the operational office of the agency.
The officials were caught in possession of fake and illegal receipts and other incriminating documents. He said that the agency was riddled with fraud and fraudulent activities, adding that it would remain disbanded. “ The government had received lots of complaints from both government officials and members of the public concerning the illegal activities and extortion by members of the disbanded agency. “ Our visit to this office has confirmed all the allegations against EDSTMA, as we have seen some fake receipts that had been issued as well as a fake list of traffic offences. “ We have also discovered from the responses of some of the so called officials of the agency interrogated that they neither have employment letters nor even identification cards. “ I want to say it here again that we have since disbanded EDSTMA; hence anybody they stop should take them to the nearest police station. “ We will, immediately, set up a committee that will commence the prosecution of any person claiming to be an EDSTMA staff’’, he said. Oshiomhole who also appealed to the public not to part with money to any person under the guise of traffic manager, said that government was poised to manage traffic and not dehumanise the people. “ Government will not accept thuggery in this state, just as government did not mandate the agency to collect any money on its behalf, cash collected are illegal’’, he said. The governor then directed that all vehicles impounded by the agency be released to their owners and monies collected from road users be refunded.
VANGUARD
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