Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Service Boss in Trouble Over Burning of Seized Vehicle, Assault on owner

Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Service Boss in Trouble Over Burning of Seized Vehicle, Assault on owner

The Lagos State government has set up a panel to investigate the Director of the Vehicle Inspection Service, Gbolahan Toriola, over the alleged burning of an impounded car and the assault of the owner.

Over the weekend,  Nigerian social media had reported the story of 42-year-old painter, Oluwadamilare Afolarin, who said he had been flagged down by the Vehicle Inspection Service officials at Ilaje, Ajah area of Lagos state, after which his Honda Accord was impounded by officials of the VIS for a cracked windscreen and he was fined N80,000.

After two weeks for being handed the fine, Afolarin was called by one Akeem to come to the Ojodu office of the agency.

He was told his car got burnt on the Vehicle Inspection Service premises and offered a N200,000 compensation. He was then taken to Toriola’s office at Alausa where he was allegedly slapped  by Toriola and his shoes and phone seized.

Folarin was accused of sneaking into the VIS premises and setting fire to the vehicle. He was told that his shoe print were seen at the scene of the burnt car.

Afolarin was subsequently locked up at the Ogombo Police Division for three days after which he was forced to sign an undertaking not to report the incident on the social media or inform the press.

The officials of the VIS then cancelled his N80,000 fine and gAve him N2,000 as transport fare back home.

Now, a source in the ministry of transportation has told the Punch Newspaper that the agency was being probed.

He said, “The ministry has set up a panel to investigate the case. Governor Ambode is furious over the matter. How can a man be assaulted, fined and detained at a police station after his vehicle got burnt on your premises? It is indeed an abuse of power.”

The state Acting Commissioner for Transportation, Anofi Elegushi, confirmed the development, He said, “Yes, we are looking into the case. Whenever we get reports like that, we have to look into them before we send our findings to the governor. We will do due diligence in the matter. You can call me tomorrow (Monday) for an update. I will ensure they carry you along.”

He said, “Yes, we are looking into the case. Whenever we get reports like that, we have to look into them before we send our findings to the governor. We will do due diligence in the matter. You can call me tomorrow (Monday) for an update. I will ensure they carry you along,” he said.

Last year an official of the VIS assaulted a journalist who tried to video another VIS official fighting with a motorist.

As the government introduces more vehicular regulation it is believed that the confrontation between inspection officials and motorists will increase.