Four men, who allegedly impersonated officials of the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources officials, have been remanded in a custodial centre by the state mobile court.

It was gathered that the suspects, Afolayan Nurudeen, Fowowe Oluseyi, Kayode Olaleye and Muibi Babatunde, allegedly used fake documents to extort money from unsuspecting members of the public.

That the ministry had received complaints from the public on the activities of some men who usually extorted money from them under the pretext of enforcing sanitation laws in different parts of the state.

According to the Director of Public Affairs of the ministry, Kunle Adeshina, the complaints prompted the ministry to liaise with officials of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps to be on surveillance for the suspects, who had been operating in the Orile Iganmu area before they were apprehended.

 

Adeshina said, “Items recovered from the suspects when they were arrested were fake inspection letters, identification cards, abatement notices of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Lagos State Wastewater Management Office, a copy of a court summons and stickers for certification of decontamination, all bearing the logo of the Lagos State Government.

“Following their arrest, the suspects were arraigned on four counts bordering on impersonation, possession of false documents, conspiracy and breach of peace before Magistrate Lateef Layeni.

“They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

“Following their plea, the magistrate ordered their remand in the Badagry Custodial Centre and adjourned till March 30 for the commencement of trial.”    ,,

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