An Arise TV presenter who broke the traffic law on Monday lashed out at Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials who impounded his vehicle.
Rufai Oseni, the host, tweeted that a police officer pulled a gun on him and his vehicle was seized for a traffic violation.
A Nigerian policeman pointed a gun at me and forcibly took my keys and took my car because he wanted to enforce a traffic violation.
— oseni rufai (@ruffydfire) August 1, 2022
But on Tuesday a video surfaced showing Oseni hurling invective at traffic officers sitting in his patrol van.
“Look at these bastards,” he yelled at them, before returning seconds later to add, “I’ll call the governor. Nonsense.”
Mr. Oseni, known for his forceful approach during Arise TV’s flagship program The Morning Show, has been the subject of discourse on social media ever since he posted on his Twitter account about the incident.
‘Rufai’ started trending on Twitter on Monday and continued on Tuesday along with ‘BRT Lane’.
“A Nigerian police officer pointed a gun at me and forcibly took my keys and took my car because he wanted to enforce a traffic violation,” he tweeted Monday.
“I think the police need training and retraining.
“I offered to pay for the traffic violation, but the police insisted on forcibly taking my keys and pointing a gun at me. I saw three other cars go through the BRT lane and no one stopped them. I’m in the sea “Why point? He pulled a gun on me and forcibly picked up my key. I’m shocked.”
Driving in designated BRT lanes in Lagos carries a fine of N70,000 and a daily fee of N1,000 for each day the impounded vehicle is parked in the LASTMA yard.
“I’m not an [lawbreaker] I saw cars going through the supposed BRT lane and they didn’t stop, suddenly they stopped me and told me I was using the bus lane.
If I didn’t see other cars, I won’t pass, plus I want to be familiar with the road. After I was pulled over, three cars also passed and nothing was done about it.
“I will never deliberately break the law. I just want to point that out,” she tweeted.
Benjamin Hundeyin, the police spokesman in Lagos, responded to Oseni on Twitter that it is illegal to drive in the BRT lanes.
ALSO READ: How LASTMA Officers Should Operate — General Manager
“Rufai, let’s not do this. You admitted to me that you passed a BRT lane. It is against the law. His claim that Google Maps took him there is not tenable. You disobeyed and resisted the officers. We will sanction the officer who misused the firearm if it is proven…”
Rufai, let’s not do this. You admitted to me that you passed a BRT lane. It is against the law. His claim that Google Maps took him there is not tenable. You disobeyed and resisted the officers. We will penalize the officer who misused the firearm if it is proven… https://t.co/tjqfUWz1cv
— SP Benjamin Hundeyin (@BenHundeyin) August 1, 2022
Gboyega Akosile, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s chief press secretary, also responded on Twitter that Oseni will face “necessary sanctions.”
“Thank you Rufai, while the @PoliceNG dealing with the police officer in your own way, we will make sure that the necessary action is taken against you for driving in the BRT lane as you admitted to the police. You are a lawbreaker and should face the necessary sanctions.”
Thank you Rufai, while the @PoliceNG dealing with the police officer in your own way, we will make sure that the necessary action is taken against you for driving in the BRT lane as you admitted to the police. You are a lawbreaker and should face the necessary penalties. https://t.co/Q467fUCOZA
— Gboyega Akosile (@gboyegaakosile) August 1, 2022