Two members of a syndicate that specialised in mounting illegal roadblocks to forcefully extort money from both commercial bus drivers and motorcycle riders have been arrested.
The suspects, identified as Nelson David, 31, and Oyewusi Johnson, were arrested by detectives from the Ikotun Police Station, Lagos State Police Command while collecting illegal toll fees from drivers.
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The police said the suspects have been on the police wanted list for allegedly constituting themselves as tax collectors.
It was learnt that their notorious actions went out of hand when their gang forcefully collected phones from some drivers and Okada riders who refused to pay the N100 toll fees before passing through College Road, Ikotun.
It was alleged that while David and Oyewusi were arrested, other members of the gang fled when they sighted the police.
The police are still hunting for other members of the gang, while David and Oyewusi have been charged before Ejigbo chief magistrates for conduct likely to cause a breach of the public peace.
They, however, pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned, but the prosecutor, Supol Benedict Aigbokhan, urged the court to give a short adjournment for the hearing.
The presiding magistrate, Mrs K. A. Ariyo, granted them bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment.
They were remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre in Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they would perfect their bail conditions.
The matter was adjourned till August 30, 2022.
