Agency Report
Chief Magistrate F. Adefioye of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Oshodi, has adjourned further hearing in a case of alleged extortion, impersonation against a ‘fake’ taskforce officer, Joseph Unosolease.
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, due to the absence of some key witnesses, the prosecuting counsel prayed the court for an adjournment.Chief Magistrate F. Adefioye subsequently adjourned further hearing and conviction to Sept. 24.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Unosolease was arraigned on Aug. 29 by the state Task Force led by its chairman, CSP Adetayo Akerele, on a three-count charge of impersonation, extortion and conduct likely to case breach of public peace.
NAN reports that the defendant and five others allegedly paraded themselves as taskforce officers to arrest and extort motorists operating along Bolade-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos on the allegation of obstructing free flow of traffic.
Following a complaint of extortion lodged by the traditional ruler of Otumara, Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye, crack team of the Task Force swung into action and arrested the suspect and had since been charged to court for prosecution.
The charge read, “That on Aug. 23, 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.
“That you on the Aug. 23, 2025, at about 1400hrs along Bolade, Arena, Oshodi in Lagos Magisterial district did impersonate as a public officer.
“That you represented yourself as an officer of the Lagos State Task Force thereby committed an offence punishable under the section 78 of the criminal laws of Lagos state 2015.
“That you on Aug. 23, 2025, at about 1400hrs along Bolade, Oshodi in Lagos Magisterial district did unlawfully obtain the sum of N20,000 from one Chief Kalejaiye Kehinde and thereby committed an offence punishable under the state criminal law.”
While pleading guilty to the three-count charge, the defendant claimed he was a LASTMA officer before his contract was terminated in 2020.
Despite his disengagement from the service of the traffic agency for his service whenever the need arises and that, he said, explained why he still operates with the Lagos State Government uniform.
Speaking to newsmen, Kalejaiye commended the timely prosecution of the suspec9t while calling for the confiscation of the towing vehicle which was used to perpetrate the crime with the arrest of other members of the syndicate.
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 is a testament to the zero tolerance of the state government to criminality and crimes.
“Having said this, I want to call for the arrest of other members of the group particularly those police officers from the State Traffic Department in Ikeja that aided the nefarious activities.
“The arrested suspect, Unosolease wasn’t the only person that committed the offence. There are other members of the group who possibly are at large,” he said.
Kalejaiye also sought for the impoundment of the towing vehicle used to perpetrate the crime, saying that this would serve as a deterrent to others who might be considering engaging in such criminal ways of earning money
