Sylvester Ojenagbon

It had the trappings of an action movie. For a moment, I thought I was merely a spectator; alas, I was playing a lead role. The young man, the auto electrician, who a few moments before was behind my car, trying to tighten a screw somewhere in the booth, was now right in front of the car next to mine, thronged by what momentarily looked to me like a hundred mobile policemen and officials of the Lagos State Government Task Force on Environmental Offences Enforcement and Monitoring Unit. And right behind us were at least five Lagos State Government branded trucks belonging to the Task Force and a number of toying vans.

Considering the troop that swooped down on us, I should have seen them coming. But I did not! That was probably because at the time it happened, I was sitting right in the driver’s seat, trying to put on the car stereo at the request of the auto electrician. Again, it was past 7.00pm and with the volume of traffic around the CAPPA area of the Agege Motor Road, it would have been impossible to know who was targeting us. But why would anybody want to target an innocent young man with a supposedly innocent auto electrician who was merely trying to tighten a screw in the booth of a car? 

Well, this is the new Lagos. And I must confess that I love the way the city is turning out. The dream of making Lagos a mega city is gradually but steadily being achieved and it is only normal to give kudos to Governor Babatunde Fashola and his henchmen, who despite all the odds against them are forging ahead and achieving some exciting feats. In fact, living in Lagos is becoming fun again (well, that is only if you have made a covenant with yourself not to break any law). Three years ago, nobody would have imagined that it would be possible to bring sanity into the chaotic situation of Lagos.

Today, if you are caught hawking any ware on the streets of Lagos, you are in hot soup. If an artisan is caught working in an unauthorized place, he faces the full wrath of the law. If you are caught attending a party on a street, the fine is N25,000 (Twenty-five Thousand Naira) or N50,000 (Fifty Thousand Naira) if you are wearing aso-ebi. Parking a car in an unauthorized place attracts a fine that is almost enough to buy another car.  

As it turned out, the raid at CAPPA Bus Stop on Friday, April 3 was intended against the auto electrician and his colleagues who, despite being displaced earlier from their workshops around the railway line, still come to the bus stop at odd hours to meet some of their customers. The unfortunate thing was that, this time around, the young man was caught ‘working’ on the radio antenna of my car, so the car had to be towed with every other vehicle in that vicinity to Alausa, Ikeja – the seat of the Lagos State Government. But as stern-looking as the leader of the team was (I later discovered he was a Superintendent of Police), he obliged me when I insisted that I would rather drive my car to Alausa myself than allow it towed or driven by someone else.

If I thought that my trouble was going to be over soon, my journey to the seat of government that night opened my eyes to the reality that traffic and environmental offences carry as much weight as criminal offences in Lagos right now. My thought was that I could waggle out of this ‘little trouble’ effortlessly, so I made a quick call to my office and one of our security operatives was despatched to ‘rescue me’ before the car was towed. The young man’s efforts to ‘free me’ however ended abruptly when soldiers from a nearby army barracks stopped the convoy of vehicles being towed because their oga’s car (by the way, their oga turned out to be an Army Colonel) was among them. A fight broke out between the soldiers and the members of the Task Force and that just worsened the matter. In spite of the commotion, the Colonel’s car was still towed with the rest to Alausa that night.

At Alausa, I made a quick call to my cousin who is a Commissioner of Police and my father-in-law who is also a senior police officer, but all entreaties to release my car fell on deaf ears. In fact, I was at the Task Force Office that Friday evening with my father-in-law till well after 9.00pm when we were advised to come back the following day. That was where I got to know that the fine I would be required to pay could be as high as N50,000 (Fifty Thousand Naira) for parking in an unauthorized place. As for the auto electrician, he was to be in custody until after the weekend when he would appear in court and possibly get a jail sentence.

The following day was just as hectic and frustrating for me as the previous evening. Courtesy of my cousin, I met the Chairman of the Task Force who asked me a simple question but insisted my answer should be yes or no.

“Is there a mechanic workshop at CAPPA?”

“Well….”

“Yes or no,” he insisted.

“No!” I answered.

“Then see me on Monday.”

I later discovered that seeing him on Monday meant that my car, a Mercedes Benz S500, would be used as evidence against the auto electrician. And nobody, except Governor Babatunde Fashola, could order its release before then. Another interesting thing, for me, was that everybody admitted that things were no longer as they used to be in Lagos State. In most cases, you face the full wrath of the law once you commit an offence, no matter the nature. A good number of people who were at the Task Force Office to secure the release of their loved ones who had been arrested for one offence or the other said as much. One or two calls from the Force Headquarters on my behalf to the Assistant Chairman of the Task Force, who lead the team that towed my car, met with the same response: the car must be used as evidence in court. 

A former Special Adviser to Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu who knew the Chairman of the Task Force and whom I asked to intervene on my behalf, told me, even before speaking with the man, that things were no longer as they used to be in Lagos. “The law must take its course,” she said. Then she told me after speaking with the Chairman that I had to wait until the case had been charged to court. I gave up on the idea of asking my boss to speak with former governor, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, or his wife, when I discovered that if either of them intervened and my car was released, then he or she would have to pay the fine. Same thing, I learnt, would happen if Governor Babatunde Fashola intervened: someone just had to pick up the bill. That is why nobody really wants to help if anyone runs foul of the law in Lagos State. Not even my friend’s wife in the Deputy Governor’s Office made any attempt to help. And I think the fact that the Task Force is directly in the Governor’s Office allows things to work without undue interference. Again, that could well be because, for the first time in recent times, the state has a governor who lives what he preaches and leads by example.  

As I walked into the Task Force Office on Tuesday morning to pick up my car, the stress of not having a car for four days had weighed so much on me and my family that I could not think of any reason why I would want to go through the same experience a second time. And contrary to all expectations, no money changed hands before my car was released. In fact, an elderly woman in the office who was somewhat helpful and whom I offered to pay her taxi fare, after my car was released, politely turned down the offer. Again, contrary to all expectations, everything in the car was intact, except for the battery that had run down.

Of course, I have taken stock. My wife and I have concluded that the only way to really enjoy Lagos right now is to be irrevocably law-abiding. And that I have always tried to do.  But sometimes it is difficult to tell when trouble is lurking. Again, I wonder how easy it is for displaced hawkers, street traders and artisans who seem to be at loggerheads frequently with the law in their efforts to etch out an honest living to be law-abiding. I just wonder.  

Robot  # 1 | 17.04.2009 21:13

Sylvester Ojenagbon It had the trappings of an action movie. For a moment, I thought I was merely a spectator; alas, I was playing a lead role. The young man, the auto electrician, who a few moments before was behind my car, trying to tighten a screw somewhere in the booth, was now right in front of the car next to mine, thronged by what momentarily looked to me like a hundred mobile policemen and officials of the Lagos State Government Task Force on Environmental Offences Enforcement and Monitoring Unit. And right behind us were at least five Lagos State Government branded trucks belonging to the Task Force and a number of toying vans. Considering the troop that swooped down on us, I should have seen them coming. But I did not! That was probably because at the time it happened, I was sitting right in the driver’s seat, trying to put on the car stereo at the request of the auto electrician. Again, it was past...Read the full article.

Big-K  # 2 | 17.04.2009 21:21

I'm seriously liking the various things I'm reading about this new lagos. I especially like the fact that all your connections didn't help. Way to go, Fashola.

Ajia  # 3 | 17.04.2009 22:47

I am pleasantly surprised that you took this in stride. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever does” - Margaret Mead A.Y.Ajia

eleniyan  # 4 | 17.04.2009 22:53

i feel for the street traders, hawkers, and artisans...I hope their plight can be attended to soon...But if this is what it takes to bring sanity to Lagos, so be it. WAI worked, and I hope this will work and next administration can build on it. Once again, Lagos leads and let the other states follow. I like how bigmanism did not work here!

Wole  # 5 | 18.04.2009 01:30

I'm not amused at all. I hope we are not losing sight of the high taxation been brought to bear on Lagosians for "advancement". I mean guys, just take a look at some of these penalties for offences as lowly as traffic offences. You drive on the wrong side of the highway or illegally park, even if as first offender, you have to be demeaned by going to a psychiatric clinic before you even pay your fines. Is the psychiatry not an extra taxation? How many hardcore criminals like murderers, armed robbers is Fashola testing their sanity first before accepting their plea or charging them to court? Is the Lagos State govt now assuming that some infractions of the law, even those as lowly as traffic offences MUST have something to do with madness or shall I say psychiatry? Ok, If I do not go for the "Aromental" checkup for minor traffic offences, will you now start remanding motorists in mental institutions? What is the per capita income of Lagosians that we will be charging one flat amount of N50,000 for this type of offence and on top of that your car is impounded (but really is to force the car owner to agree to be a state witness against the other accused). Now, I'm curious to know what Fashola's move would be if the car owner becomes an hostile witness in the case against the car electrician. Will his/her car now be confiscated? Or would he still just have to pay the N50,000 which the car owner had been willing to pay all along. These case is a simple case of minor traffic and/or environmental offences that could still have been handled without impounding the car for several days since the offender was willing to pay the fines. I just paid a speeding ticket few days ago without having to go to court. Once I'm willing and able to pay immediately why should my car be further impounded if not for show of force and posturing that "We mean business and there is a new Sheriff in town". I like most of the ideas Fashola is trying to bring to Lagos, however, for most of minor offences, I see a trend where Lagosians are being overbearingly penalized.

Count1  # 6 | 18.04.2009 02:39

=Wole;347623>I'm not amused at all. I hope we are not losing sight of the high taxation been brought to bear on Lagosians for "advancement". I mean guys, just take a look at some of these penalties for offences as lowly as traffic offences. You drive on the wrong side of the highway or illegally park, even if as first offender, you have to be demeaned by going to a psychiatric clinic before you even pay your fines. Is the psychiatry not an extra taxation? How many hardcore criminals like murderers, armed robbers is Fashola testing their sanity first before accepting their plea or charging them to court? Is the Lagos State govt now assuming that some infractions of the law, even those as lowly as traffic offences MUST have something to do with madness or shall I say psychiatry? Ok, If I do not go for the "Aromental" checkup for minor traffic offences, will you now start remanding motorists in mental institutions? What is the per capita income of Lagosians that we will be charging one flat amount of N50,000 for this type of offence and on top of that your car is impounded (but really is to force the car owner to agree to be a state witness against the other accused). Now, I'm curious to know what Fashola's move would be if the car owner becomes an hostile witness in the case against the car electrician. Will his/her car now be confiscated? Or would he still just have to pay the N50,000 which the car owner had been willing to pay all along. These case is a simple case of minor traffic and/or environmental offences that could still have been handled without impounding the car for several days since the offender was willing to pay the fines. I just paid a speeding ticket few days ago without having to go to court. Once I'm willing and able to pay immediately why should my car be further impounded if not for show of force and posturing that "We mean business and there is a new Sheriff in town". I like most of the ideas Fashola is trying to bring to Lagos, however, for most of minor offences, I see a trend where Lagosians are being overbearingly penalized. Actually, it takes a certain amount of irrational thinking to drive the wrong way against traffic when you see other people queuing up, and you are aware there is a very stiff penalty for doing so, in fact, you must be mad! If that is what it takes to cleanse Lagos, then so be it! The pity of it is that there is a generation of Nigerians, nay Lagosians who were born into lawlessness and amorality and see nothing wrong in such acts. Methinks there is a serious need for societal reorientation side by side with the social re-engineering that is going on. This is no longer a State of "Anything goes", Mister!:rant::rant: Gba Be! Eko o ni baje! Up Fashola!:hail::hail::hail: Count 1

Wole  # 7 | 18.04.2009 04:40

Count 1: Ok, the motorist driving the wrong way is mad, can he/she (the motorist) then still be guilty of the act of driving the wrong way? So, he/she is mad, then what? Again, I restricted my angst to the stiff and sometimes down demeaning penalties that some of these minor (non violent) offences carry in a state with majority of her residents being poor. And, all these without recourse to first time or repeat offenders. Whosai, how would he even distinguish the two types of offenders. What social orientation or reengineering did Fashola undertake before slapping all these stiff, and sometimes demeaning penalties on the erring residents? I'm listening. May be it's a personal thing, however, I sincerely believe that in a state such as Lagos a fine of about $350 for minor traffic offence is too much moreso for a first time offender of such minor offence. If we are looking for a stiff deterrent fine, then for a first time offender of minor (I repeat minor) traffic offence, then $100 (my opinion) may suffice in view of the average income level of Lagosians. A law with arbitrary penalties (that is one not reflecting the economic situations on ground) will most probably fail, just ask the Brits of the 17th/18th centuries when sentences for petty theft carried a MINIMUM sentence of DEATH BY HANGING!! Did crimes go down? Nigerians travel alot all over the globe and undoubtedly want to bring their country to the same state as the countries they just visited never minding how long it took those countries to get to where they are at. And, we think we can just wave the magic wand, impose the stiffest penalties, consign citizens to medical institutions for minor traffic offences and VOILA we'll have the magical Eko Akete Centre of Excellence. I'll tell you these, there have been those before Fashola that were even imprisoning, whipping, repeat whipping residents and also kicking, and making them jump-frog for even lesser infractions than what Fashola is now condemning them to mental institutions for; where did that lead us. Again, I'm listening. Demeaning penalties don't work. A penalty must reflect the crime, and a fine must reflect the ABILITY to pay even if it were to be stiff for deterrent purposes. But then, maybe, just maybe I'm getting my rational wrong, may be Lagosians are all indeed very wealthy and $350 is chump change to them, then in that case I apologize for my rantings. But don't get me wrong, I love Fashola as the governor for the vision he has for the state and some of his on-the-groung achievements. And I support these laws but I'm only questioning some of the penalties.

TEchi  # 8 | 18.04.2009 05:54

I see a trend here. The man with the connection in spite of the offense he is let go without paying the fine. All was just a hogwash show of force to the general public to antagonize the poor. The poor electrician is made to bear the brunt of the irrational law. Methinks you are as guilty as the electrician and should have been made to pay the stipulated fine. What happens if the electrician were to have connection like you? Would they let him go after all the charade? The way I see it this irrational, pretentious show of force favors only the rich and the well connected. The poor electrician gets put behind bars for minor infraction. What are they doing to stop murders, kidnappers, armed robbers and people who deal in human body parts in Lagos? I’m sure they are going to give the electrician meaningless stiff sentence of several months or a year behind bars. Now does this make sense to anyone? This show of force is a meaningless waste of tax payers’ money. In a civilized society this would constitute summons to appear in court to deny the charges and if found guilty, pay a fine not a jail sentence that does not fit the crime. All the show of force is to oppress the poor and it should not be called a law because it doesn’t make sense. Do not get me wrong, I am all for better Lagos but they should make laws that do not favor anybody no matter how well connected. Having lived in Lagos, I know there is lot of crazies in the city just like any other metropolis. But laws that doesn’t make sense should be repealed.

ajimoh  # 9 | 18.04.2009 06:45

=Wole;347623>...You drive on the wrong side of the highway or illegally park, even if as first offender, you have to be demeaned by going to a psychiatric clinic before you even pay your fines. Is the Lagos State govt now assuming that some infractions of the law, even those as lowly as traffic offences MUST have something to do with madness or shall I say psychiatry? Yes, only a mentally challenged person would choose to drive on the wrong side of the road, for that involves sheer impulsiveness and reckless disregard for your own life and the lives of others. It is wrong to drive on the wrong side of the road, so don’t do it. Anyone who does so should face the full wrath of the prescribed penalties; enough of impunities. What is the per capita income of Lagosians that we will be charging one flat amount of N50,000 for this type of offence and on top of that your car is impounded (but really is to force the car owner to agree to be a state witness against the other accused). Now, I'm curious to know what Fashola's move would be if the car owner becomes an hostile witness in the case against the car electrician. Will his/her car now be confiscated? Or would he still just have to pay the N50,000 which the car owner had been willing to pay all along. This speculation misses the point that someone has broken the law in the first place. There are procedures for dealing with a hostile witness in court and it does not involve confiscation. These case is a simple case of minor traffic and/or environmental offences that could still have been handled without impounding the car for several days since the offender was willing to pay the fines. I just paid a speeding ticket few days ago without having to go to court. Once I'm willing and able to pay immediately why should my car be further impounded if not for show of force and posturing that "We mean business and there is a new Sheriff in town". Let there be no simple infraction of the law in the first place. It is from simple infractions that other misdemeanours get their bearings. Let us look at a simple case of James Ibori and wife when both were in London and convicted of simple theft in respect of good stolen from Wickes DIY Stores, did the same Ibori not go on to become a bigger rogue, aided by the same wife? It is better to nip something in the bud than allow it to germinate. Those who steal from the public purse should be given exceptionally long jail terms, including their accomplices, and let us see how many of the Governors will dare dip hands into the Treasury. What is happening in Lagos State is a good thing. I like most of the ideas Fashola is trying to bring to Lagos, however, for most of minor offences, I see a trend where Lagosians are being overbearingly penalized. WAI was the best thing to happen to us but what exactly did IBB replace that with and where did his own populist looting approach lead us? There is nothing overbearing about the prescribed penalties; they are so punitive and stringent to send a strong message that certain behaviours will not be tolerated. The Federal Government and other indolent Governors should learn from Fashola's sterling examples.

konkomitant  # 10 | 18.04.2009 07:28

Mr brother Sylvester Ojenagbon, you're a disgrace to Lagos and Nigeria as a whole. So you contacted: Commissioner of Police, Senior Police Officer, former Special Adviser to Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and were about to contact former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu himself to intervene in your case becuase your car was involved in an offence. After you were freed, you even tried to pay an elderly lady who was helpful in order to corrupt her person. So would you blame her tomorrow if she starts expecting money from others in other to be helpful? This is what has turned Nigeria into what it is today. Evil men will not allow the law to take it's course, but will do everything to pervert the course of justice. Am glad you and your wife have now made up your mind to be law abiding citizens. Please leave the Commissioner of Police, Senior Police Officer, former Special Adviser to Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu to work for the masses without partialty. They are not your private property.

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