Lagos arraigns Zenith Bank Plc bullion van driver for driving against traffic

The operatives of the Lagos State Task Force on Wednesday arraigned a bullion van driver for driving against traffic (One-way) before Magistrate Lateef Owolabi of the Lagos State Mobile Court sitting at Bolade, Oshodi, Lagos.
Chief Superintendent of Police Olayinka Egbeyemi, the Chairman of the Agency, disclosed that the driver of the bullion van was apprehended by the enforcement team of the Agency around Brown Street toward Cappa area of Oshodi.
The Chairman disclosed further that the driver of the bullion van with registration number HK 218 EKY, Bamidele Ezekiel, who works with Zenith Bank Plc, admitted to have driven against traffic (one-way) in a statement he made to Agency.
Egbeyemi said: “Honestly speaking, I don’t know why some enlightened and educated people within our society just flagrantly disobey laws made to regulate free flow of traffic on our roads without any regards to other road users.
“It is imperative to urgently re-orientate these bullion van drivers on the need to abide by all traffic regulations and stop the habit of driving against traffic across the State.”
Egbeyemi confirmed that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu, directed that the arrested bullion van driver be immediately charge to court for prosecution to deter others from this illegitimate act.
Ezekiel, 46, said he committed the offence with one Kehinde Babalola, Manager of Zenith Bulk Teller, out of the curiosity to deliver money to his destination on time and that he never knew that he would be caught.
According to the driver: “Yes I drove one-way and I am appealing to the government to please temper justice with mercy as I promise never to do such again in my life.”
Ezekiel was charged before Magistrate Owolabi for the offence of driving in a direction prohibited by law (one-way) punishable under Part (III) item 27 of the Transport Sector Law of Lagos State 2018.
The defendant pleaded “guilt” when the charge was read to him.
But when asked to affirm his “guilt” plea, he changed and said he was not guilty again.
While the plea of not guilty was entered by the court against the defendant, the case was adjourned to July 30, 2019 for commencement of trial by the Magistrate.