Ruzu Boss lament VIO officers’ conduct in Anthony, call on the Director of VIS Lagos State for swift action on erring officers
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Ruzu Boss lament VIO officers’ conduct in Anthony, call on the Director of VIS Lagos State for swift action on erring officers
…demand a refund of money extorted
By Naomi Onome
In a statement tagged “The Criminal Activities of VIO Officers at Anthony Bus Stop Are Worse Than Armed Robbers on the Street” by the MD/CEO of Ruzu Herbal Products and Services Ltd., Dr. Uzu Onyemaechi Roberts, he shared a personal experience encountered with VIO officers in the Anthony area of Lagos State as he called on the Director/Chief State Vehicle Inspection Officer Akin-George Fashola, the state coordinator, to checkmate erring officers found culpable of extortion, malicious apprehension, dehumanization, and any other inhumane actions carried out in the name of the highly esteemed organization.
Recounting his awry experience, Dr. Uzu said,
“On Monday, 26th May, at about 9:00 am, precisely three days ago, our company-branded Sienna conveying our products to Idumota was intercepted by the officers of VIO at Anthony bus stop. Presumably, the head of the VIO team, SN Mathew (Mrs.), requested the car particulars, and they were presented to her. After careful evaluation, she noticed that the hacking permit was missing, and she alerted our driver.”
“Luckily, I was escorting them to Idumota because the driver was employed a couple of weeks ago and has not mastered Idumota road signs. I talked with S.N. Mathew, and I never knew it was not included in the particulars because we renewed the particulars through the VIO office in Abuja.”
“I then called VIO officer Chris, who spoke with S.N. Mathew and informed her that the hacking permit was actually among the particulars, but due to network issues, he couldn’t print it out. He assured her of sending the hacking permit to her when he got to the office. She accepted but insisted that our driver had to bring the vehicle to their office for proper documentation. The driver did accordingly.”
“Officer S.N. Mathew seized the vehicle and demanded that we pay a fine. She took my driver to a nearby corner close to a POS merchant and asked him to settle with #20,000 and go; otherwise, the vehicle would be confiscated”.
“Our driver informed her that the man who was discussing with her is the CEO of the company, and he will brief him. I didn’t argue; I only requested the state government account details so that we can pay for the fine. She said we should pay through the POS woman at the corner piece. The account details were a personal account, and I couldn’t find it funny. Therefore, I refused to pay.”
“That was the beginning of our nightmare. She kept us there and refused to talk to us. By 11:00 a.m., I went back to her and again pleaded for the account details because we are running out of time. It was one, Mr. Timilaye, who is in charge of the issuance of the carriage permit, that assisted us to log in to the site and complete the payment process.”
“We presented the proof of payment voucher to her. She came up with another condition that has to do with the tax payee showing that the driver is not evading tax. She referred us to another woman who demanded the company’s proof of payment of tax for the staff, including the newly employed driver”.
“I tendered her request and informed her that the driver resumed work two weeks ago and that his name could only be reflected for next month’s payment. I even tendered to her the driver letter of appointment. At this time, it was already 3:00pm. I requested that she advise me on what else to do, and she said I should pay for the driver’s personal task, and the bill is #60,000, and I must pay it through the same POS woman at the corner piece. I told her, why #60,000 when the driver’s monthly salary is #45,000? She kept mute.”
“Having evaluated what I am about to lose if I allow the vehicle to stay overnight, coupled with the fact that we have goods worth $2,000,000,. I paid #60.0000 to the POS woman, including #700 in charges.”
“The VIO officer then released the vehicle and asked our driver to come back the following day, being Monday, to collect the tax certificate. Our driver collected the taxi certificate yesterday only to discover that only #40,000 was remitted to the state government account”.
“They still succeeded in using another avenue to collect the #20,000 initially demanded for bribes, of which my refusal landed our driver and me into bullying, intimidation, all manner of abuse, insults, and unnecessary delay. I went through hell in that terrible environment because I refused to bribe them.”
“I am appealing to the state coordinator of VIO to train his officers. Those VIO officers I saw are purely area men and women, with questionable characters and absent of sound mind.”
“They should pay me my #20,000 because I have briefed our company’s lawyer.”
“Attached are proofs of payment of the fine, tax of #60,000 to the POS woman, including the driver appointment letter and proof of staff payee we presented to them.”
“We need a better Lagos. Those men and women don’t deserve to be given state uniforms.”
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