The Lagos State Taskforce in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Justice has auctioned 134 forfeited and abandoned vehicles at the Taskforce compound in Alausa, Ikeja.

The auction exercise, which took place on Thursday, attracted members of the public who participated in the sale of vehicles that were confiscated for various traffic offences ranging from driving one way to wilful obstruction of traffic across various parts of the state.

Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, Shola Jejeloye, a Chief Superintendent (CSP), said the terminating end of any enforcement exercise carried out by the agency was the Mobile Court who determines the fate of vehicles seized for traffic infractions.

My role as a Police officer is to carry out enforcement exercises one of which is confiscation of vehicles for traffic offenses, and handing them over to the mobile court for judgement. I don’t determine the fate our outcome of any vehicle brought before the magistrate in court,” he said.

Jejeloye enlightened members of the public that traffic offense was not a criminal offense thus the need for any offender who has been arrested to have the boldness and confidence to face the mobile court.

Some of the cars being auctioned here were confiscated for obstruction of traffic which only attracts a fine but some people never showed up to claim these cars, hence the forfeiture to the government after the stipulated period and then auctioned,” he added.

Coordinator of Lagos State Special Offenses Mobile Court, Mrs Arinola Ogbara-Banjoko, said all 134 vehicles on display had gone through due process of the court of law before being forfeited to the government.

Obeying traffic laws is a simple yet often overlooked action. When everyone is following the rules, the road is more organised and most importantly safer.

For example, the Lagos State Government during the week, auctioned 134 forfeited and abandoned vehicles at the Taskforce compound in Alausa, Ikeja.

Jubril Gawat, a media aide to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, explained the government sold vehicles impounded for various traffic offences was because offenders failed to show up for the court process.

The auctioning has since generated a lot of mixed reactions on social media. While some social media users backed the government’s action, others described it as “harsh.”

1. LASTMA officers or law enforcement officers may not always be your friend — Like some motorists say: “The fear of LASTMA officers is the beginning of wisdom”. Avoid going physical with LASTMA officers or law enforcement officers after you may have violated a traffic rule. Be civil and engage them calmly.