August 03, (THEWILL) – Arise TV news anchor, Oseni Rufai, has been found guilty by a Lagos Mobile Court for contravening Lagos State Transport Law of 2018.
Rufai’s car was seized on Monday, after he drove on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane.
Spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, in an update on the development on his Twitter handle on Tuesday night, said his car has been released to him after he paid a fine of Seventy Thousand Naira.
“Mr Rufai Oseni was in court earlier today. He was found guilty of contravening Lagos State Transport Law (2018). He was subsequently fined Seventy Thousand Naira Only. He made the payment, after which his vehicle was released to him”, Hundeyin tweeted.
Rufai had on Monday, tweeted that a gun was pointed at him by the police and his vehicle forcefully taken away from him.
“A Nigerian police officer pointed a gun at me and forcefully took my keys and drove my car off, because he wanted to enforce a traffic infraction”, he wrote on his Twitter page.
Responding, Hundeyin said the broadcaster had broken the law after he admitted he drove on a BRT lane.
“Your claim that Google maps took you there is not tenable. You disobeyed and resisted the officers. We’ll sanction the officer who misused firearm, if proven”, he said.
But the journalist replied that “a gun was pointed at me and my car was forcefully driven off. Now you are lying Ben, if I resisted, how did they drive my car off and why did you ask me to send my car details? All I want is justice. I noted there was an infraction. It’s best you stop the lies!”
A trending video of the incident, captured Rufai having an altercation with the police,
He was captured hurling insults at officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), who impounded his vehicle. He also said that he will “call the governor”, for intervention.
Meanwhile, Rufai has apologised to all parties involved in the incident, adding that it has been a humbling experience for him.
The journalist made the apology during a live broadcast show on Arise TV on Wednesday morning.
Rufai said: “I have to read the personal message I did. As many of you know in the last two days I have been in the news for the wrong reasons. This has resulted in needless distraction for my friends, family, members of the public and for all my colleagues on Arise News.
“I like to apologise to all parties over what transpired during the incident with the police when I was stopped while driving on the BRT bus lane. I dare not lay claims to know it all. Lessons have been learned from this entire episode. This has been a really humbling experience for me.
“I like to use this opportunity to express my gratitude to all those who have reached out to me in the last two days for their guidance and counselling. Thank you, everyone. God bless you all and please let’s continue to strive to make our country a better place for all. I apologise.”
