The-urgent-need-for-the-delta-state-government-to-investigate-and-address-the-public-complaints-petitions-against-the-authorities-of-destma-of-their-activities-of-gross-corruption-and-abuse-of-office-on-motorists-in-delta-state
September 7, 2020 | News
THE URGENT NEED FOR THE DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE AND ADDRESS THE PUBLIC COMPLAINTS/PETITIONS AGAINST THE AUTHORITIES OF DESTMA OF THEIR ACTIVITIES OF GROSS CORRUPTION AND ABUSE OF OFFICE ON MOTORISTS IN DELTA STATE
With the established fact that the Delta State Traffic Management Authority (DESTMA), popularly now called/known as “Okowa Police”, which was created primarily to control and manage traffic, and ultimately make public life much easier and livable for road users and motorists, we therefore consider it an anomaly that today, the Management Authorities of DESTMA have turned the agency into a market-arsenal used for the extortion, harassment and intimidation of motorists/road users in the cities of Delta State, particularly in the oil city of Warri and environs.
While we have, in several occasions, drawn the attention of the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to the distasteful and uncivil practices of the so-called DESTMA with its Head Office situated within the Vehicle Licensing Office (VIO) Premises along Warri Sapele Road near the NPA; it is sad that up till now, the Authorities of DESTMA have been left to continue exploiting the Nigerian public, and at the same time abuse their Offices and statutory roles. To the extent that several private independent bodies and individuals have equally written countless petitions and complaints, particularly against the Director General (DG) of DESTMA, Mr. Samuel Azubuike Idah.
The ones that recently caught attention was the petitions from Young Nigerian Rights Organization, and Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation. Just like the similar complaints we have raised before now concerning the corrupt and unprofessional practices/activities of the said DESTMA and its Officials, the said petitioners noted how they recently acquired credible evidence which reveals that Mr. Sam Azubuike Idah, DG of DESTMA, has been directing Offenders of road traffic laws and regulations in Delta State to pay their fines and/or bribes into a private bank account said to belong to the Chief Security Officer of DESTMA. What is more surprising is that there are also video and documented evidences, according to the petitioners, of some of these ‘cash transactions’ between supposed traffic offenders and some DESTMA Officers.
Apparently, this is a clear violation of the payment protocol of public funds, which are always to be paid into designated Government bank accounts for transparency and accountability. Aside this, there were other stated demonstrated actions and dispositions of the said DG of DESTMA, which clearly paints of picture of a man who sees himself as being above the law and even the Government that appointed him there. And so, he feels he can do whatever pleases him towards supposed traffic law offenders and get away with it. Such a public official is a practical example of an appointee of the Delta State Governor, whose observed unprofessional actions and dispositions as DG of DESTMA, is daily painting a very bad image of this present administration.
Also, what is most important and pressing is the fact that these are very weighty allegations that any responsible Government should sternly frown at, and would not hesitate for a second to properly investigate this issue and bring it to a logical conclusion.
What is more disturbing is the fact that, under the guise of carrying out their duties on our roads, the said DESTMA officials have been known to resort to fabricating all kinds of offences just to extort money from unsuspecting motorists in Warri and environs and Asaba. Once any vehicle is impounded by them, the vehicle owners are coerced to cough out exorbitant amounts of money between N5,000 to as much as N50,000. We cannot even imagine the extent the officials of DESTMA could go just to extort money from motorists. We have also heard of cases where they escort their motorist victims to the ATM to force them to withdraw money, or make online transfers to settle them over fabricated offences on the roads.
As far as we can tell, the said DG of DESTMA, Mr. Sam Azubuike Idah should be promptly arrested and prosecuted without delay. We simply cannot have such an individual to head the traffic management of our cities. He will only end up making life more miserable for road users, and at the same time enriching his pockets. We therefore join voices to urge that this illegality should be promptly addressed on our roads. And those Officials of the said DESTMA should be investigated and dealt with the full weight of the law. We cannot condole such exploitative tendencies on our roads that has the propensity to make Delta State to be seen as a crime-prevalent and lawless State.
Zik Gbemre.
June 4, 2020.
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
With the established fact that the Delta State Traffic Management Authority (DESTMA), popularly now called/known as “Okowa Police”, which was created primarily to control and manage traffic, and ultimately make public life much easier and livable for road users and motorists, we therefore consider it an anomaly that today, the Management Authorities of DESTMA have turned the agency into a market-arsenal used for the extortion, harassment and intimidation of motorists/road users in the cities of Delta State, particularly in the oil city of Warri and environs.
While we have, in several occasions, drawn the attention of the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to the distasteful and uncivil practices of the so-called DESTMA with its Head Office situated within the Vehicle Licensing Office (VIO) Premises along Warri Sapele Road near the NPA; it is sad that up till now, the Authorities of DESTMA have been left to continue exploiting the Nigerian public, and at the same time abuse their Offices and statutory roles. To the extent that several private independent bodies and individuals have equally written countless petitions and complaints, particularly against the Director General (DG) of DESTMA, Mr. Samuel Azubuike Idah.
The ones that recently caught attention was the petitions from Young Nigerian Rights Organization, and Behind Bars Human Rights Foundation. Just like the similar complaints we have raised before now concerning the corrupt and unprofessional practices/activities of the said DESTMA and its Officials, the said petitioners noted how they recently acquired credible evidence which reveals that Mr. Sam Azubuike Idah, DG of DESTMA, has been directing Offenders of road traffic laws and regulations in Delta State to pay their fines and/or bribes into a private bank account said to belong to the Chief Security Officer of DESTMA. What is more surprising is that there are also video and documented evidences, according to the petitioners, of some of these ‘cash transactions’ between supposed traffic offenders and some DESTMA Officers.
Apparently, this is a clear violation of the payment protocol of public funds, which are always to be paid into designated Government bank accounts for transparency and accountability. Aside this, there were other stated demonstrated actions and dispositions of the said DG of DESTMA, which clearly paints of picture of a man who sees himself as being above the law and even the Government that appointed him there. And so, he feels he can do whatever pleases him towards supposed traffic law offenders and get away with it. Such a public official is a practical example of an appointee of the Delta State Governor, whose observed unprofessional actions and dispositions as DG of DESTMA, is daily painting a very bad image of this present administration.
Also, what is most important and pressing is the fact that these are very weighty allegations that any responsible Government should sternly frown at, and would not hesitate for a second to properly investigate this issue and bring it to a logical conclusion.
What is more disturbing is the fact that, under the guise of carrying out their duties on our roads, the said DESTMA officials have been known to resort to fabricating all kinds of offences just to extort money from unsuspecting motorists in Warri and environs and Asaba. Once any vehicle is impounded by them, the vehicle owners are coerced to cough out exorbitant amounts of money between N5,000 to as much as N50,000. We cannot even imagine the extent the officials of DESTMA could go just to extort money from motorists. We have also heard of cases where they escort their motorist victims to the ATM to force them to withdraw money, or make online transfers to settle them over fabricated offences on the roads.
As far as we can tell, the said DG of DESTMA, Mr. Sam Azubuike Idah should be promptly arrested and prosecuted without delay. We simply cannot have such an individual to head the traffic management of our cities. He will only end up making life more miserable for road users, and at the same time enriching his pockets. We therefore join voices to urge that this illegality should be promptly addressed on our roads. And those Officials of the said DESTMA should be investigated and dealt with the full weight of the law. We cannot condole such exploitative tendencies on our roads that has the propensity to make Delta State to be seen as a crime-prevalent and lawless State.
Zik Gbemre.
June 4, 2020.
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes