LASTMA can fine traffic offenders, Fashola insists

IKEJA- Following the judgment of Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday, barring Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, from imposing fines on traffic offenders, Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde  Fashola, Thursday, said the state has the residual authority to make legislation on municipal issues that fall within the ambit of the state.

Meanwhile, the state said it will appeal the judgment. State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, said in Lagos that: “We are appealing the judgment immediately. Lagos State, Federal Government and other jurisdictions have laws that validly impose fines in the same way as LASTMA law, so we are certainly not satisfied with the judgment.”
Fashola had said, “I have not read the judgment and the only information I have about the judgment is from the press, clearly, that is not a legal interpretation of the judgment. Road traffic is a municipal matter in which the state government clearly has the residual authority to make legislation.”
“Of course, you will understand that all over the world, there is usually provision for either the summary payment of crime or the option of a trial and I think this is what exists really. If you do not want to go on trial, you can say you want to pay a fine and I think that is the ambit of which we have been operating and those who insist on being taken to court, obviously are being taken to court.”

Source:  Vanguard Newspaper