As part of efforts towards redeeming its positive image from blackmailers and mischief makers, the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps, LAGESC, has debunked rumours making the rounds that it’s management demanded a bribe of five million naira from market leaders at the Igando/Owode Market.

Its Corps Marshal, retired Police Commissioner Gbemisola Akinpelu made this disclosure at the Command Headquarters, Bolade-Oshodi.

According to her, the management under her leadership will never demand for any compensation, inducement of any form from market men and women to reopen the closed Igando/Owode Market.

Speaking on the development, Akinpelu revealed that the management team during a meeting with the Igando/Owode market leaders led by the Baba Oja, Chief Sakiru Ejalonibu and other market executives emphasised on the need for the market leadership to maintain cleanliness and also ensure the market environment is free from traffic gridlock.

She further revealed that the entire market leadership and the management agreed a market Taskforce team be inaugurated which will be in charge of ensuring the market is free from traders converting the lay-bys, walkways, BRT terminus and roads into markets or display their goods for sale.

Consequently, the management of the Agency expressed shock as it gathered that market leaders led by Baba Oja, and other executives mandated the market owners to donate a total sum of five million naira as bribe for reopening the market which is contrary to agreement reached in a meeting.

The Corps Marshal admonished market men and women in the State to desist from any form of blackmail as the leadership of the Agency detests bribery and corruption of any form and offenders will be tried accordingly for libel and defamation of character to serve as deterrent.

This is according to the Head, Public Affairs Unit, Ajayi Lukman.