From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
At a public hearing of Kogi State House of Assembly, a Lokoja based lawyer, Barrister Bamidele Suru described the activities of Kogi State Traffic Maintenance Agency (KOTRAMA) as illegal and against the law establishing it.
The Lawyer, who recalled that he was at the Public Hearing of the Bill establishing KOTRAMA, said the Agency is currently operating outside its enabling law.
He noted that the Agency is now carrying out the duties of Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) and that of the Federal Road Safety Corps.
According to him, the law was copied from that which established Lagos State Traffic Maintenance Agency (LASTMA), saying the Court of Appeal recently upheld the judgement of a High Court which ruled that the activities of the Agency as illegal.
Barrister Suru pointed out that KOTRAMA was established to enforce traffic laws and arrest offenders, saying the State House of Assembly must rise up and salvage the illegality of the Agency.
The Lawyer, who condemned the activities of the Agency, urged the State Government to employ competent hands that will implement the laws establishing it.
Kogi State Traffic Maintenance Agency (KOTRAMA) was put in place by the Kogi State government to control traffic in the state, however, the body has diverted from their responsibility as they now arrest motorists and charged them for one offence to another without following due process.
