Jibril Gawat, the Senior Special Assistant to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has revealed facts about the auction process that happened on Thursday.
The SSA took to Twitter on Friday morning to justify the auctioning of 134 vehicles impounded for several traffic offences by the state government on Thursday.
The exercise generated a lot of reactions, especially on social media after videos from the venue of the auctioning showed some of the vehicle owners wailing while their vehicles were being auctioned, with many viewing the government’s action as being harsh.
Explaining reasons behind the action on Friday in a post in a Twitter thread titled “FACTS about the Lagos State Auction Process that happened yesterday,” Gawat said the exercise was totally in line with the provisions of the Lagos State laws.
He wrote, “THREAD: FACTS about the Lagos State Auction Process that happened yesterday.
- The Lagos State Taskforce in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Justice auctioned 134 forfeited and abandoned vehicles at the Taskforce compound in Alausa, Ikeja.
- The role of Lagos State Taskforce is to carry out enforcement exercise which is confiscation of vehicles for traffic offenses, and handing them over to the MOBILE COURT (with evidence) for Judgement.
- Some of the cars being auctioned here were confiscated Not for ONE WAY Alone, there are other offices that attracts just a fine but some people run away from the Court Process, thats why they have been forfeitted to the State Government after the stipulated period (BY LAW).
- The Coordinator of The Lagos State Special Offenses Mobile Court was present at the Auction venue, she says exercise is seemless and well organised and also disclosed that all 134 vehicles on display had gone through due process of the COURT OF LAW before being forfeited.
- Taskforce says auction exercise is to desist the public from committing crime or traffic offences as no one would be spared if found wanting.
He says he hopes that this exercise would serve as a dettrent to other road users who are fond of driving against traffic.
- Finally …. ENFORCEMENT CONTINUES.”
Reacting to his thread, a tweep called Ambrosevic hailed the state government for the auction and said it should curtail driving against the traffic.
He wrote, “This is a good one for me. Lagos is one terribly crazy state with many traffic offences, this should curtail driving against the traffic and I hope people will learn their lessons from here. My advice is let there be transparency in the exercise.”
Lakunle Salisu wrote: “Very commendable. My appeal is traffic signs should be made VERY VISIBLE & CONSPICUOUS . I’ve instances were traffic signs are in places that motorists would ordinarily not c them. Eg d no Uturn sign @ palm avenue 
except it’s been changed sha.”
@vthe2nd: “Lol . This same Friday you would see lots of one-ways. Especially govt vehicles not on emergency.
I can send in a video with a time stamp , if you agree.”
@Theophilius3edeh: “Who are the real people that bought the auction cars…hope we are not empowering corruption by this attempt..I would suggest that fine with community service including one term teaching service for the graduates without salary can serve as a fine..my opinion.”
@Lupaxbusty: “No one would be spared but the bastard police and army, navy and drug dealers escorted by nigerian police go through one way even without traffic just to test power. You people are all insane. The law , the govt, the Nigerian parents who didn’t teach their kids their rights too.”
