•As motorists recount ordeal, demand Gov Eno’s intervention
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday clashed with task force team of the l Ibom State Ministry of Transport ver claims of extortion at their office along Ikot Ekpene Road, Uyo.
The crisis erupted when the Ministry’s taskforce team impounded a power bike belonging to an investigative staff of the security outfit, despite his insistence that he was a staff of the EFCC.
The situation escalated into chaos after a signaled EFCC backupat team arrived the premises of the former AKTC Park, currently used as the Ministry’s Taskforce office.
In the process, the EFCC team whisked away one Christopher Edemekong and another staff, simply identified as Afangene, for further interrogation.
WatchmanPost lernt that the taskforce team was said to have demanded N150,000 payment as a precondition for the release of the bike.
We understand the EFCC after storming the scene, also demanded for release of the power bike and other vehicles illegally impounded by the taskforce team to their respective owners.
Some motorists who recounted their ordeal on the hands of the taskforce, said they have faced series of intimidation from the taskforce, claiming that they have been severally harassed by the staff of the Ministry who are fond of impounding vehicles and removing plate numbers of cars belonging to alleged traffic offenders, pending payments ranging from N100,000 to N150,000.
Mr Kufre Udoh, a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers condemned the act and the manner used by the Commissioner for Transport, Dr Anthony Luke, in setting up the said Taskforce Committee.
He alleged that the Commissioner had appointed his cronies, who are not well versed with activities of Road Transport Unions, particularly the appointment of Mr Armstrong Monday, said to be in charge of printing the Unified Government approved Union Checkoff dues, which is strange to the Trade Union Act, Cap T14, Vol.15 Laws of the Federation as amended and other labour laws in Nigeria.
He also condemned the manner with which the Commissioner appointed taskforce committees, without consulting the Union Leaders and described it as a clear act of administrative rascality.
The Union Leader frowned at the alleged introduction of Plaza ticket, issued at N1000 for each vehicle, printed by the Ministry of Transport, after the suspension of ticketing by the State Government.
Other Union Leaders who preferred anonymity, demanded that the Commissioner should pull himself out of the Union’s operations, with regards to the collection Checkoff dues and restrict himself to his administrative mandate.
Meanwhile, efforts made by our correspondence to speak with the Commissioner to respond to the allegations proved abortive, as he did not respond to calls made to his mobile phone.
