The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Sector Command, has secured the conviction of a 26-year-old motorist, Atada Victor, for dangerous driving, assaulting an FRSC Marshal and other traffic-related offences following his arraignment before the Magistrate Court, Wuse Judicial Division, Abuja.
The conviction underscores the Corps’ resolve to protect its personnel and ensure that attacks on law enforcement officers are met with the full weight of the law.
According to the FRSC, the incident occurred at about 8:30 a.m. during a routine traffic enforcement operation in the Federal Capital Territory. The convict, who was driving a vehicle with registration number RBC 398 DQ, was flagged down by an FRSC patrol team for committing a traffic violation.
Rather than complying with the lawful directive to stop, he allegedly accelerated, knocked down the arresting Road Marshal and rammed into the Corps’ patrol vehicle in an attempt to evade arrest.
The attack left the FRSC operative with serious injuries to the head, eye and other parts of the body. He was immediately evacuated to the National Hospital, Abuja, where he is receiving treatment and remains under medical observation. The patrol vehicle also sustained extensive damage.
Following investigation and prosecution, the Magistrate Court found the defendant guilty of dangerous driving, driver’s licence violation and assaulting an FRSC Marshal in the lawful discharge of his duties.
The court sentenced the convict to two weeks of community service and ordered him to pay ₦580,000 to the FRSC FCT Sector Command as compensation for the repair of the damaged patrol vehicle. He was also directed to pay ₦500,000 to cover the medical expenses incurred in treating the injured Road Marshal, bringing his total financial liability to ₦1.08 million.
Reacting to the judgment, the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, described the conviction as a strong signal that assaults on FRSC personnel and attempts to obstruct lawful enforcement operations would not be tolerated.
He said the judgment reaffirmed the judiciary’s support for the rule of law and the protection of officers carrying out their statutory responsibilities.
Mohammed urged motorists to obey traffic regulations and cooperate with FRSC personnel during patrol and enforcement operations, stressing that road traffic laws are designed to safeguard the lives and property of all road users.
He reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to enforcing traffic laws professionally while ensuring that anyone who attacks or obstructs its personnel is brought to justice.
