Three men, Adekunle Oshinowo, Awosika Thompson and Ayo Funmilayo, were on Wednesday charged before an Ikeja Magistrates' Court, Lagos, over alleged impersonation as police officers.
The trio, Oshinowo, 64; Thompson, 59; and Funmilayo, 50, are facing a two-count charge of impersonation and breach of peace, and were alleged to have impersonated police officers for twelve years.?
Oshinowo resides at 34, Randle Ave., Surulere, Lagos; Thompson lives in Alagbado area of Lagos; while Fumilayo resides at Ota area of Ogun.
The prosecutor, ASP Barth Nwaokeye, told the court that the defendants had between October 2000 and March 2012, falsely presented themselves as officials of the traffic division, Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Command.
Nwaokeye alleged that the accused? displayed police logos and emblems on their towing vans while extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public.
He alleged that the defendants also used police walkie-talkies to intercept radio messages.
Nwaokeye claimed that the accused persons were illegally in possession of some official documents of Lagos State Traffic Department.
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Section 52 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2003.
He said that the accused also acted in contrary to Section 62 (1&2) (b) of Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.
Magistrate Olufemi Isaacs granted each of the defendants N100,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.
The case was adjourned till May 5 for trial. (NAN)