The Delta State Traffic Management Authority (DESTMA) has denied allegations made by Mr. Zik Gbemre, who claimed that the agency is involved in extortion and thuggery.
Mr Gbemre, in a statement, accused DESTMA officials of illegally collecting money from motorists and said they were acting like thugs. He shared the story of a man named Mr Kingsley Ogwe, who was allegedly forced to pay ₦30,000 to recover his car after being stopped for not wearing a seatbelt in Warri on March 1, 2025.
However, the Director-General of DESTMA, Hon. Dr. Benjamin O. Okiemute, has strongly refuted these claims. He explained that since he took over as the head of the agency, he has been working to improve DESTMA by training staff and making sure they follow the rules.
According to him, an investigation was carried out, and it was discovered that:
- Mr Kingsley Ogwe was stopped for not wearing a seatbelt and causing a traffic obstruction.
- He refused to follow DESTMA officers to their office as required.
- The agency does not collect money directly from motorists, and the payment Mr Ogwe made was authorized by DESTMA on Monday, March 3, 2025.
- Zik Gbemre did not confirm the facts before making his statement because the payment was made on March 3, 2025, while Zik Gbemre’s publication was on March 4, 2025.
- DESTMA believes the accusations were politically motivated.
The DG also denied Mr Gbemre’s claim that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori gave DESTMA a daily revenue target. He emphasized that DESTMA is not a revenue-generating agency but is focused on ensuring traffic rules are followed. He added that any traffic offender is given 24 hours to be taken to a mobile court for proper judgment.
DESTMA has now given Mr Gbemre 48 hours to take back his statement in two national newspapers or face legal action.
This controversy has raised questions about how traffic laws are enforced and whether the agency is treating motorists fairly.
