The Lagos State Government has debunked reports alleging
that the state governor, Babatunde Fashola ordered his police escorts to
manhandle the driver and children of Felix Morka, the Executive
Director of the Social and Economic Rights Action Centre (SERAC) during a
traffic incident on Tuesday 26th March.
A statement signed by a government spokesman, Hakeem Bello said “the
premise and the content of the message are completely false.”
Explaining what happened on that day, the statement said “On the
aforementioned date, at around 3pm, the Governor was returning from a
Security meeting at the headquarters of the State Security Service (SSS)
through CMD Road in the Magodo area when his convoy and other road
users got blocked by a man who had driven his Jeep with Registration
number KU 549 KJA against the flow of traffic. The identity of the owner
was later established to be Felix Morka.
“The gentleman in question had contravened a traffic law by vacating
his own lane and driving against oncoming traffic. This had resulted in
him blocking other road users, including the Governor’s convoy, from
progressing on their journey. After about two minutes, in which the
driver bluntly refused to reverse and move to his own side of the road
as politely requested by the Police escorts, the Governor instructed his
Aide-de-Camp to investigate what was going on.
“Mr. Felix Morka’s driver was immediately arrested by the Policemen.
He was charged to court on Wednesday 27th March as is the norm for such
traffic offences.
“At no point were the occupants of Mr. Felix Morka’s vehicle harassed
or molested. Mr. Morka’s claim that his driver’s arrest was connected
to his criticism of this administration is laughable. No one in the
convoy knew who he was at the point the vehicle he was in was driven
against the normal flow of traffic, the reasons for his driver’s arrest
were due to a clear contravention of a well-known law. Further,
photographic and video evidence are available which will be used in the
prosecution.”
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