The Director-General of the Delta State Traffic Management Authority (DESTMA), Hon. Benjamin Okiemute, has dismissed as false and misleading an online publication alleging that a judgment was delivered against the agency by a High Court sitting in Asaba on January 10, 2026.
Addressing journalists at a press briefing on Monday, Hon. Okiemute said the attention of DESTMA management had been drawn to a publication circulating on social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, which he described as a deliberate attempt to prejudice the agency’s operations and discredit the achievements of its officers.
He categorically stated that DESTMA was not aware of any such court judgment and was neither served with court processes nor invited to any legal proceedings in relation to the claims.
According to the DESTMA boss, publications on social media do not constitute recognised channels of official government communication, adding that the alleged judgment was unknown to the agency and therefore without legal standing.
He urged members of the public to disregard the report in its entirety and to rely only on verified and lawful sources of information.
Hon. Okiemute further called on law-abiding residents of Delta State and other road users to continue to comply with traffic regulations, stressing that the laws enforced by DESTMA are designed to ensure safety, orderliness and the general wellbeing of commuters across the state.
He warned that the publishers of what he described as false and defamatory information would be held accountable, noting that relevant security agencies were already taking steps to identify those responsible. “The long arm of the law will catch up with them,” he said.
Clarifying DESTMA’s enforcement procedures, the Director-General explained that enforcement is an integral part of traffic management and involves ensuring that offenders are made aware of violations they have committed.
He noted that traffic offenders are processed in line with established legal frameworks, including appearance before a Mobile Court, where penalties are determined by a judge in accordance with the law.
Hon. Okiemute emphasised that DESTMA operates strictly within its rules of engagement as provided by the enabling laws gazetted by the Delta State Government.
He added that Mobile Court judges have the discretion to issue fines, grant leniency to first-time offenders or impose stiffer penalties where necessary, all in line with due process.
He reaffirmed that DESTMA officials would continue to carry out their duties professionally and lawfully, insisting that the agency has not acted outside its mandate and remains committed to enforcing traffic laws in the best interest of public safety across Delta State.
