The Delta State Traffic Management Authority (DESTMA) has described a publication by one Mr. Zik Gbemre against the agency and the state government as not only a blackmail but also tissue of lies without any iota of truth.
According to DESTMA, while giving Gbemre 48 hours to retract his publication or face a legal action, said Gbemre whose stock in trade is fabrication of stories to blackmail individuals, especially the Delta state government and it’s officials, does not carry out a proper verification of stories before rushing to the press.
Gbemre had on Monday, following a fine paid by a road traffic offender after his vehicle was impounded by DESTMA officials in Warri, made a publication titled “Gov Oborevwori, Please Stop The Thuggery, Extortion By DESTMA”.
Gbemre who gave the name of the traffic offender as Kingsley Oghwe, alleged that the agency’s officials extorted the said Kingsley Oghwe in Warri and questioned the rational behind the alleged extortion.
Gbemre also accused governor Sheriff Oborevwori of recruitment of thugs and running a government of thuggery by extorting money from motorists all in the name of collecting revenues by officials of DESTMA and that the agency’s officials boasted that they were given a certain target by governor Oborevwori to meet daily because the state needs money.
Meanwhile, reacting to the publication, the Delta State Traffic Management Authority (DESTMA) described the publication by Mr. Zik Gbemre against the agency and the state government as not only a blackmail but also tissue of lies without any iota of truth to tarnish the reputable image of the agency and the state government.
DESTMA, stated that Gbemre who is not a journalist whose stock in trade is fabrication of stories with intentions to blackmail individuals, especially the Delta state government and it’s officials, without carrying out a proper verification.
Addressing a press conference in Asaba Thursday, Director-General of DESTMA, Benjamin Okiemute, NN Rtd FNIS, stated emphatically that there has never a time, the governor or himself gave any official of the agency target to meet on a daily basis as alleged by Gbemre, adding that the agency is known for the promotion of a disciplined traffic culture among road users as well as improve its operations.
“In the cause of my inauguration as Director General of the Delta State Management Authority, (DESTMA), His Excellency, the executive governor of Delta state gave me a marching order to bring back the Agency to align with the core mandate of its establishment. This gave rise to my mission statement of enforcing a disciplined driving culture in Delta state.
“On assumption under my watch, the Agency has been undergoing a lot of re-branding and repositioning which entails training and re-training of staff, staff re-sensitisation, re-orientation and organisational restructuring. To fully achieve this mandate, the management team went about visiting relevant agencies such as Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps and the Nigeria Army Brigade Commander, Asaba. We also went to tour round the various formations of DESTMA to get on the spot assessment of facilities in the various zones.
“This paradigm shift from the old norm has started yielding results in various forms such as staff motivation, conduct, commitment and public perception and as the DG of this reputable agency, we shall not fold our hands and watch a man whose stock in trade is fabrication of stories with intentions of blackmailing and arm twisting individuals and government officials.
“Just yesterday, as the DG, my attention was drawn to a publication dated 4th March, 2025 in which one Mr. Zik Gbemre falsely accused DESTMA staff of extortion. The said publication went further to issue false and defamatory statements accusing the state government and the governor of recruiting thugs to the agency with a view to generating revenue for the state, which is clearly against the MORE agenda of our governor’s administration and all it represents. In my capacity as Director General, I set up a panel of enquiry to ascertain the true position of the allegations contained in the said publication. The outcome of the panel’s findings are as follows:
“That one Mr. Kingsley Oghwe who said he is a Pastor violated traffic rules by driving his vehicle with registration number LSD 440 FN without a seat belt and causing road traffic obstruction and his vehicle was subsequently impounded by DESTMA officials on Saturday, 1st of March, 2025 at about 11:00am. There was a refusal by the said Mr. Kingsley Oghwe to follow our officials from the scene to the office even after lawful request was made, instead Mr. Kingsley Oghwe attempted driving away with one of our officials to an unknown destination. This attempt was only thwarted by our proactive officers and they later arrived at the office.
“On arrival at DESTMA zonal office, Warri and being prepared to be charged to a mobile court for the offence committed. Mr. Kingsley Oghwe started to plead with our officials to temper justice with mercy and he deposited his driving license and other documents with our officials with a promise to come and pay. We received a receipt of payment on Monday, 3, March, 2025 of the sum of thirty thousand naira which was unilaterally made by Mr. Kingsley Oghwe albeit our Agency does not accept cash as part of our operational procedures.
“The next day, 4th of March, 2025 the fabricated publication was made by Mr. Zik Gbemre on behalf of Mr. Kingsley Oghwe and in all ramifications the publication was false, defamatory and malicious. It must be noted that Mr. Zik Gbemre never contacted DESTMA to ascertain the true position of things before his hasty publication but rather relied on the information of Mr. Kingsley Oghwe. We believe his position was politically motivated hence, his hastiness to the press. We also discovered that, this has been his pattern in time past to solicit for cheap publicity from individuals, government and its officials and DESTMA as an agency will not be pressurised nor blackmailed.
“I want to reiterate again, that the publication of Mr. Zik Gbemre was politically motivated, false, ill-timed, lacks credibility and calculated attempt to paint DESTMA, the governor and the state government in bad light before the public. Enough is enough, at this junction and as an agency of government, in view of the above, the agency thereby gives Mr. Zik Gbemre 48 hours to retract his fabricated publication in two national daily newspapers or face legal action for defamatory and libel.”, Okiemute stated.
