A senior lawyer and member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos Branch Human Rights Committee, Lillian Eronini has petitioned the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba over alleged traffic violation ticket issued by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

In the petition made available to CITY LAWYER, the fiery human rights activist also demanded “immediate reversal of the processed traffic violation fine of N20,000 (twenty thousand Naira) from the Lagos State Traffic Management Solution (LTMS) as there is no basis for same within seven days) from the date of the receipt of this letter, else I will have no option but use the instrumentality of the law to reverse the said illegal fine.”

Dated June 15, 2023 and addressed to LASTMA’s General Manager, Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, the petition was titled, “RE: PROTEST LETTER IN RESPECT OF TRAFFIC VIOLATION PROCESSED AGAINST MY VEHICLE NO LSD 273 HG ON 18TH MAY 2023, FOR ILLEGAL PARKING IN FRONT OF SEXUAL OFFENCES COURT HOUSE, HIGH COURT IKEJA.”

Narrating her ordeal, Eronini, who was in court to pursue a pro bono matter on behalf of an indigent client, wrote: “On the 7th day of June 2023, I received a processed traffic violation fine of N20,000,00 (Twenty Thousand Naira) from the Lagos State Traffic Management Solution (LTMS) which they claimed to be penalty for the traffic offence of improper parking with violation no: VNLSD273HG070623042946.

“A video was sent with the said penalty, after watching the video, I discovered that the said video was recorded in front of the Lagos State Sex Offenders Court house, within the Court premises of the Ikeja High Court Lagos.

“I am a member of the NBA Lagos Branch Human Rights Committee, by virtue of the said position, I have so many pro-bono cases assigned by some Lagos State High Court Judges.

“It is pertinent to inform you that I was in court for one of those pro bono cases (THE STATE OF LAGOS V. PETER SAMUEL WITH CHARGE NO.:ID/5350C/2017 BEFORE JUSTICE OSHODI).

“It is also instructive to state that on the said 18th of May 2023, my good self and other colleagues too numerous to mention were directed by the court’s security to park in front of the court, (Domestic Violence & Sex offences Court) because the car park could not accommodate all the vehicles of lawyers, as there is clearly no traffic sign prohibiting lawyers from parking their vehicles beside the court premises.

“I also wish to draw your attention to the fact that from the video evidence sent to me, the said vehicles parked beside the court premises were not causing any form of obstruction to the free flow of traffic.

“Further take note that upon receipt of the processed traffic violation fine of N20,000 (twenty thousand Naira) from your office, I immediately contacted some of my colleagues who we parked together on the said date to confirm if their cars were also fined and to my greatest surprise, only my vehicle was issued with the said parking fine, as such I wonder why my car will be HANDPICKED from over 50 cars parked on the stretch of that road.”

CITY LAWYER gathered that LASTMA is yet to respond to the petition at press time.

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