LCC appeals to IG to tell Mbu to release toll operators

LCC appeals to IG to tell Mbu to release toll operators

Lekki Concession Company (LCC) has appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba to tell Joseph Mbu to release toll operators arrested by his aides on Thursday 29 January.

In a statement by LCC, it pleaded with Abba to prevail on Mbu to release its staff after they were forcefully and unnecessarily seized from their duty post in Lagos state.

According to the statement: “At about 6:09 p.m. on Thursday 29 January 2015, the newly deployed AIG Zone 2, covering Lagos and Ogun States, (AIG Joseph Mbu) passed through Lane 8 at Toll Plaza 1 on the Eti-Osa Lekki-Epe Expressway, (a toll road under concession to a private concern, Lekki Concession Company-LCC) with 6 police vehicles and an armoured van in his convoy,” the statement said.

“Though it is customary to exempt law enforcement agents and other agencies on
official duty from paying toll, each vehicle that passes through the plaza still
needs to be processed as exempt vehicle to ensure adequate reconciliation of
daily transactions. Consequently, while the toll collector was trying to process the
vehicles, the police officers in the AIG’s convoy asked him to open the boom for
all the vehicles to pass through. Unfortunately, all explanations by the Toll
Collector on the need to follow LCC’s operational guidelines and to process the
vehicles individually fell on deaf ears.”
Joseph Mbu: his aides seized the toll collector without
reason
LCC noted that: “After he had processed the first vehicle, the police men in AIG’s
Mbu’s convoy jumped off their vehicle into the booth and physically assaulted the
Toll Operator. They then bundled him and 3 policemen attached to the plaza into
their vehicle and whisked them off.”
“The toll Collector and the 3 policemen are currently detained at Maroko Police
Station in Lagos. The CCTV footage clearly shows that there was no delay or
confrontation by the LCC staff at the plaza which could have degenerated into
such act of intimidation, harassment and detention.
“In view of the foregoing, we wish to passionately appeal to the Inspector General
of Police Mr. Suleiman Abba to kindly use his good office to intervene and ensure
immediate release of the detained LCC staff as they have committed no offence.
At the material time, they were only doing their legitimate duties.
“We also wish to affirm that we do appreciate the important functions of Law
Enforcement Agencies. However, we expect them to also assist us in preventing
a breakdown of law and order by following universal rules and procedures where
applicable.”