By Dozie Iheakaram
It is no breaking news that uniformed men are making a living off a lot of illegal arrests of innocent citizens based on frivolous accusations not backed by any facts. This is very rampant in the southern states. From Lagos to Edo, Enugu to Rivers, Nigerians are being harassed into parting with their hard-earned money by agencies in uniform. Their modus operandi is the same. Accost an innocent citizen, illegally go through their phones or car documents, find some frivolous issues and delay them, especially if they are in transit, accuse them of something illegal then demand that they go to the station or outpost. Even when the victims know their rights, they are highly disadvantaged. Their time is being wasted and they are against persons with guns and uniform (a form of authority). They stand little or no chance. Basically, the Government has armed some people with guns and authority and let them loose on the citizens to live off.
On twitter this July 2020, I read a story of how three boys were abducted from their parents’ home by some policemen at 2.30am on the pretext that they were cultists! They were only released when their parents parted with N60,000 at the police station. I have also read how FSARS rounded up some guys, took them to Jibowu bridge and ordered them to call their families to come and free them at a cost of N100,000 per person. There were other unsettling stories such as the case of the young man who was forcefully taken to a POS and made to pay N50,500 before his phones were returned to him and a couple who were made to pay over a million that was eventually returned to them after they made their compliant to the right authority. All these cases were handled by a twitter influencer, Segalink. If nobody has lost his job or gone to jail for these criminal acts, if all that happens is that the officers are made to refund these monies and then go back to their beats on the streets, it is only a matter of time before staff of other uniformed agencies realize that crime pays and set up their own syndicates. Well, today, Saturday 25 July 25, 2020, I experienced the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) version of the criminal act of obtaining or attempting to obtain by false accusation.
I was driving in Jabi when I passed a traffic light which was on green but indicating 6 seconds before turning red. I did not only notice but noted this because habitually, I do not beat traffic lights. Just after I passed the traffic light, I pulled over to make a purchase by the side of the road, and when I looked up from searching for my wallet, I beheld a road safety officer on his bike parked too close to the front of my car, effectively blocking me from moving forward while their pick-up van pulled up beside me, blocking my route too. I also noticed through my right-side mirror that an officer was coming towards my front passenger side while another came to my side to speak to me. The officer on the right side tried to open the passenger door but it was locked. I wound down my side glass and enquired from the officer if there was an issue. He responded that I beat the traffic light and that’s why they caught up with him. I told him that I am fully aware that the light was on green with 6 seconds left when I passed and that I didn’t beat the red light. I also told him that the light indicating the right turn was on about 30 seconds while the one indicating my direction was on 6 seconds, just to let him know I was fully aware of what I did. The officer and his colleagues remained adamant that they saw me beat the traffic light. They asked me to open my car so one of them can seat inside while we drive to their station or wherever. I asked him if it is part of their operational procedures to enter an offender’s car. He did not respond. In addition, he cannot come into my car unless he shows me his covid19 test result. We went back and forth on what I saw versus what he saw for about 10 minutes. I suggested that he should send one of his staff back to observe the traffic light and match it against my facts. The traffic light was a few meters away. If the 6 seconds for moving straight on and 30 seconds for the right turn don’t correspond, then I will admit to his accusation. He refused. I made the argument over and over until he agreed that we will go back and check the timing. I then asked him for his facts. What time did he see that made him conclude that I beat traffic? He must know that and state it to me. He kept quiet. At this point, I brought out my phone and started recording the rest of our conversation.
Me: Officer, what time did you see on the indicator when I beat the traffic light?
Officer: Oga lets go.
Me: I am going with you but you must give me your facts before we go so we will know whose facts are right.
Officer: The light counting was the one indicating the right turn.
Me: What number was it showing?
Officer: The traffic light doesn’t have two lights. Its only one light that turns either to green or red (*that controls both directions).
Me: That is wrong. There are two lights and numbers.
Officer: No. It’s just one. It’s the same light that changes from green to red.
Me: No, there are two numbers; one directs you to go forward, while the other directs you to turn right. And both of them are reading.
Officer: Oga two of them are not reading.
Officer 2: I will join you (in your car), let’s go back and check.
Me: No. You can’t enter my car.
Officer: Right from the other light, you even jumped that one. (*Referring to earlier traffic light).
Me: I did not. That one isn’t working.
Officer: Oga, let me summarize this issue.
Me: You don’t need to. All I need from you is to prove to me that I beat the traffic. If you prove to me that I beat traffic, I will settle the ticket.
Officer: It’s just unfortunate that we did not take a video which we usually do.
Me: Well, you need to bring your facts and evidence. I have presented mine to you.
Officer: You have a point there because we did not record it.
Me: Why didn’t you record me?
Officer: We were not expecting you to violate the traffic law because we were behind you and believed you saw us.
Me: You shouldn’t work with your expectations. Always be ready. I passed on 6 seconds while the right turn was on 30 seconds.
Officer: The right turn was on 36 seconds while your direction was on red. Oga, you are recording me on video?
Me: No, I’m only recording our conversation. I already know your name, Mr. Nwonah and you are wearing a mask so I can’t see your face.
Officer: It’s not right for you to record this.
Me: Who said so? It’s right so when we get to the final place for mediation, everybody’s facts and story is clear. I don’t want it to be your words against mine.
Officer (talking to his team): This is what we will do. Let us go. I know he didn’t pass on 6 seconds. I saw it but no problem. We don’t have any evidence to hold him.
After they left, I went back to the traffic light and checked their facts against mine. I took a picture of the traffic light when it was on 6 seconds as shown. I was dead accurate on the two numbers.
1. The officer said its only one number that was reading, the one on the right. He was wrong. Both numbers were reading.
2. The officer said that the number for the right turn was around 36 seconds while for vehicles moving straight on was on red. Wrong again. The right turn was on 30 seconds while my direction was on 6 seconds. If the right turn was on 36 seconds, my direction would have been on 6 + 6 = 12 seconds. So, I wouldn’t have beaten the red light.
3. The officer said the traffic light doesn’t have two lights; it’s just one that changes from red to green. Wrong again. There are two lights directing motorists to two different exits.
SOME LESSONS:
1. Do not allow these guys into your car. Once they are in, you are outnumbered and trapped. Getting them out will be a heck of a task. I have had cause to shout out to some motorists not to allow them into their cars.
2. Know your rights and ask them questions. On separate occasions, I have asked these guys if their procedure requires them to enter someone’s car, it makes them nervous.
3. Know who you are. I know my driving habits. I know I don’t beat traffic. I was so certain of my facts despite not being on a familiar route. The officer couldn’t place his facts besides mine and win.
4. Drive safe.
Dozie Iheakaram can be reached on dozxy@yahoo.com
** This article was first published on July 26, 2020
