“I am allowed to bend the law,” says House of Reps member arrested for ‘one-way’ driving

Honourable Samson Okwu, member of the House of Representative, was arrested on Wednesday November 22, for driving against traffic.

News reports claim that Okwu, who represents Uju/Obi federal constituency of Benue state, told the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) that he had to beat the traffic to keep an appointment.
 
He allegedly told the officer on duty to watch-out for public officers who have exception while using the road as according to him, officials should bend the rules for their sake.

He further argued that the VIO officials didn’t have the guts to stop a vehicle with sirens driving against traffic as he did to the lawmaker, describing their action as act of insubordination.
 
“That is why I am telling you that in a government there are people that are allowed to bend some of the laws. There are rules, I explained to the gentleman, but he wanted to use his position to intimidate me but my car is carrying a government number that is why they gave me that number. So if he is using his uniform as a government personnel, I am using my number.”
 
“You know in law there is an exception that is why you see ministers use siren because you have exigencies. I am going to attend a function with the minister of finance this morning. I was there for over one hour plus. You do expect me to remain there because I do not have siren. That does not mean that I shouldn’t go but I was there, I do not know the exercise that was going on here keeping cars here, I think it is indiscipline,” Okwu stated.
Even though the mobile court reported that they had recorded over 28 convictions with various penalties given out to the driver, Okwu challenged the enforcement team to ensure that as they carry out their duty properly.

He told them to make sure that the traffic flows faster so the people who are going to work would be early to their respective offices.