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.”
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