Lagos To Auction Seized Bullion Van, Truck

There were indications on Thursday that the Lagos State Government was making preparations to auction a bullion van and a truck impounded in the state for violating traffic laws. The state Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences enforcement Unit had impounded the bullion van belonging to Bankers Warehouse in August. The van with registration number BV 171 BDG was impounded on Creek Road, Apapa for driving against traffic while conveying money to a new generation bank in the area. Also, a truck was impounded on the Third Mainland Bridge on Monday, also for driving against traffic. A source said, “The vehicles were actually confiscated by the government. And since the governor did not want unused vehicles in the secretariat premises, they have to be disposed of.” The task force Chairman, Mr. Bayo Sulaiman, confirmed the auction plan. He said the government would, however, wait for two months before auctioning the vehicles. He said, “Immediately we caught the drivers violating the traffic law, they automatically forfeited their vehicles to the government. “The Section Seven of the road traffic law and Section Seven of the environmental law prescribed automatic seizure of any vehicle impounded in violation of the laws. “But the laws also stated that we must wait for two month before we begin the process of auctioning such vehicles. “There is no room for negotiation in this matter. The law is very clear. If we don’t do this, people will not respect these laws. We must do what the laws say.” Sulaiman appealed to residents of the state to always obey the law, saying the government would no longer listen to “sentimental reasons” for flouting the law. He said the task force was also working hard to rid the state of “miscreants” masquerading as “land grabbers.” He said, “There is no space for them to operate in Lagos. It is an act of lawlessness for some people to just resort to violence and intimidation over land. Government will not allow it.”