Lagos Retiree Accuses Task force Of N55,000 Extortion

Some Lagos taskforce officials have been accused of extorting the sum of N55,000 from a 77-year-old retiree, Dotun Falua, in Okota, in the Isolo Local Council Development Area of the state.

According to Falua, as reported by a national newspaper, the extortion took place on Monday when he was on his way from the Airport Road where he visited a family friend.

The Ekiti State-born retiree said a man who claimed to be a taskforce official forced his way into the car when he stopped to purchase an item at a shop along Ajao Road, leading to Canoe Bus Stop.

Narrating his ordeal, the victim said, “I went to Redstar Express, off Airport Road to see a family friend. After we finished the discussion, he offered his driver to take me back home.

“On our way back, we just stopped at a shop along Ajao Road leading to Canoe Bus Stop with the driver in the car and the car engine still on, incidentally the owner of the shop was not in and I did not even close the door of the car.

“In a jiffy, someone opened the front door and jumped in, claiming he was a task force official. He said he wanted to warn us that we should have not parked there.

“We explained to him that we are not parking and not in any way blocking traffic. There was even no traffic at that time around 2pm.”

Furthermore, the retiree said the officer, who refused to give his name asked him (Falua) to drop him off but kept directing the driver until they got to the Okota Taskforce Office where some other thugs harassed and extorted them.

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He added that the taskforce official, alongside others stressed that they would not release the car unless N55,000 is paid.

Falua said all attempts to settle the matter amicably fell on deaf ears until the amount was transferred plus the Point-of-Sale charges to an agent.

The retiree lamented that he had to call the owner of the car who paid the money for no offence committed and hence requested that the case be investigated and the money returned.

“I want this matter investigated. Let the appropriate authorities take this up to check this rubbish and return the money. The poor boy had to squeeze out this money after this extortion,” the retiree added.

Contacted, Damilola Kushimo, the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to Isolo Local Council Development Authority Chairman, Bayo Olasoju, said the council did not have any knowledge of the extortion.

“I just placed a call to the Supervisor – more like the Commissioner for Special Duties we have in the local government. He claimed not to have any idea about it. For now, there is no idea about that extortion. He (the council chairman) is currently in a meeting,” Kushimo said.

Reacting as well, Gboyega Akosile, the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was positive that the suspects could be apprehended, described the incident as a case of “bad eggs in the society.”

“It’s a case of bad eggs in the society, you should talk to the chairman of the taskforce,” he said.