By Emmanuel Nduka
Amidst tearful wailing and gnashing of teeth, the Lagos State Government on Thursday auctioned 134 “abandoned and forfeited vehicles”.
The sate government conducted the sell-off through its Ministry of Justice and the state’s Taskforce.
The vehicles which were confiscated over several traffic offences, received over a thousand entries in the open registration for the public auction.
Speaking with journalists at the event in Ikeja, the Taskforce Chairman, Sola Jejeloye, explained that offenders should approach the office to inquire about the stance of their offences.
“My role as a police officer is to carry out enforcement exercises, one of which is confiscation of vehicles for traffic offences, and handing them over to the mobile court for judgement.
“I don’t determine the fate or outcome of any vehicle brought before the magistrate in court.
“Some of the cars being auctioned here were confiscated for obstruction of traffic which only attracts a fine but some people never showed up to claim these cars that’s why they have been forfeited to the State Government after the stipulated period and then auctioned,” he said.
Also speaking, the Coordinator of the State Special Crimes (mobile court), Mrs Arinola Ogbara-Banjoko, added that the process has been improved upon to allow for a seamless and transparent process.
During the auction, a young taxi driver who appeared with his aged mum, missed the opportunity to buy back his impounded vehicle.
According to reports, the taxi driver said he bought the car for N1.8millio via hire purchase. He attended the event with a noble amount of N50,000 for the buy-back, but saw his hopes dashed after it was sold for N450,000 to the highest bidder.
