Posted on: 08:57 Wed, 27 Jan 2016



There was pandemonium at Omole bus stop on
Oba Ogunnusi Road in the Ojodu area of Lagos
on Tuesday after a traffic warden, Sunday
Charles, engaged in fisticuffs with a motorist,
identified as Kingsley.

It was learnt that Kingsley, who was stopped by
a team of traffic officers at the junction, was
allegedly beaten up by Traffic Man Charles for
refusing to part with N50.

The motorist lost three front teeth during the
brawl…

According to Punch, Kingsley and some people in
the bus manhandled Charles and threatened to
drag him to the Ojodu Police Division for the
assault on the driver, before some pedestrians
advised them against reporting the incident.
At about 11.30am, Charles, who was with three
female officers and four officials of LASTMA, had
stopped Kingsley’s vehicle at the junction.

The
traffic warden allegedly demanded N50 from the
motorist before he could let him go.

It was learnt that trouble, however, started when
Kingsley claimed that he had earlier given N50 to
the warden, adding that he would not give him
another until evening.

Charles, who allegedly insisted on collecting the
money, was said to have dragged Kingsley down
from the vehicle and punched him in the face,
during which the motorist’s three teeth fell off.

Speaking with PUNCH, Kingsley said he refused
to allow Charles to go because he had injured
him.



The injured man said, “I am a commercial driver.
The warden stopped me about 8am and I gave
him N50. So, I was surprised when he asked me
again.

“I was going towards Agidingbi Road when he
stopped me. He demanded another N50. I
refused, saying he should wait till evening. He
dragged me from the bus and started punching
him on my face.

“My mouth started bleeding. I realised three of
my front teeth had fallen off. So, I grabbed his
uniform. People bundled him inside my vehicle
and said I should take him to the police station.

“His colleagues and LASTMA officials stood
away during the altercation because he did not
listen to them. I suspect the warden was drunk
because of the way he dragged me from my
vehicle.”

A pedestrian, Abiodun Dada, said other traffic
wardens and LASTMA officials, who were
embarrassed by Charles’ action, later calmed
down enraged motorists not to protest against
the incident.

But the Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo
Badmos, claimed that it was the motorist and his
condoctor who assaulted the traffic warden,
adding that Charles’ uniform was torn during the
attack.

She said, “The traffic warden was beaten by a
commercial bus driver and his conductor who are
still at large. His service uniform was torn to
pieces. He was rescued by a team of policemen
deployed in the scene. The case will be dealt
with decisively.”