The Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority (OYRTMA) has insisted that violators of traffic law in the state will pay a N1m fine slammed by the agency on a fallen truck long Efunsetan Roundabout, Challenge, Ibadan,

In a statement issued on Friday, the chairman of the agency, Akin Fagbemi, said a false accusation was made by Adeyinka Aroyewun, the national president of the Council of Maritime Truck Union and Association that the agency extorted the sum of N850,000 from the owner of the fallen truck into a private bank account

The agency said the writer’s narration of events does not represent the fact and it was just an imagination.

The agency said three weeks ago, a truck crashed on the road obstructing the flow of traffic and causing an environmental danger in the area.

Mr Fagbemi said the Oyo state government intervened before the police allowed the agency to evacuate the fallen truck in March.

He added that after the truck was evacuated, the owner of the truck visited his office to apologise and promise to pay N1m fine imposed by the authority as well as the charge incurred by the agency in evacuating the truck.

“In a twist of events, the aforementioned National President of the Council of Maritime Truck Unions and Associations (COMTUA), Adeyinka Aroyewun on Wednesday 12th April 2022 visited OYRTMA’s administrative headquarters in an attempt to influence the release of the container claiming he is a revered member and stalwart of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State and as such has a close personal relationship with the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde,” Mr Fagbemi said.

“He boasted that he will subsequently secure the release of the container without the payment of statutory fines and charges slammed against the owners. In his words, Mr. Aroyewun said: ‘it is shocking that with our plea and influence, this container is not released without fines. I will call the Governor myself and secure its release. Even in Lagos, we do these things, how much more Ibadan’.”

Mr Fagbemi said the claims are laughable and it is only clear that he attempted to drag the agency reputation by distorting facts in order to seek public sympathy.

Mr Fagbemi added, “No amount of intimidation or interference will stop the authority from executing its constitutional responsibilities of ensuring safety on all roads in Oyo State and issuing fines to defaulting groups or individuals to serve as a deterrent to others.”

The agency insisted that the owner of the fallen truck will pay the fine imposed by the authority, damage on the road and charges incurred in evacuating the truck from the road.

The agency alleged that Mr Aroyewun collected the sum of N500,000 from the owner of the truck with the assurance that he will secure the release of the truck without the payment of the fine imposed.