Following the seizure of 150 rams by the officials of Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) from ram dealers at Ijora Olopa, Lagos, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has condemned the Lagos State government under the leadership of Babatunde Fashola (SAN).
KAI on Sunday seized rams from the dealers while they are transporting it to their base in Ijora.
The chairman of ram dealers, Alhaji Musa Sokoto, said the KAI officials seized the rams without giving any reason for the action.
Speaking further, Sokoto accused KAI of withholding 15 of 150 rams seized when he led some of his colleagues to the secretariat to secure their release.
Reacting to the news, the Coalition through its Executive Chairman, Comrade Debo Adeniran noted that the excesses of the KAI official was becoming unbearable and the brute force they employ to suppress and molest traders was uncalled for.
He said: “The lawlessness and the excesses of KAI officials are becoming unbearable. Withholding people’s goods and demanding fine when the offence has not been spelt out is extortion of the highest order.
“They capitalise on the vulnerability of the petty traders, shoe makers, food sellers and other artisans who are eking a living and have their stalls close to the roads to extort money. Just some few weeks back two KAI officials were arrested for allegedly demanding N800, 000 bribes from a trader at Iddo Market. This trend is disturbing considering the status of Lagos State.”
Speaking further, Adeniran noted that withholding 15 out of the 150 rams seized makes a mockery of the state government and urged the Lagos State government to look into the matter.
He added: “It is very disheartening that goods seized could not be accounted for accurately. This makes a mockery of Lagos State government and KAI management. Does it mean the inventory was not done when the rams were brought or is KAI saying that the remaining 15 rams got lost in transit?
It behoves Lagos government to, as a matter of urgency, look into this allegation by the ram dealers and bring anyone found to have abused his office to book to serve as deterrent to other erring officers.”
The human rights activist however urged the Lagos State government to concentrate on delivering on its manifestos instead of “victimising and witch-hunting hapless Lagosians”.