A Magistrate Court sitting in the Wuse Judicial Division, Abuja, has convicted a 26- year-old motorist, Atada Victor, for dangerous driving, assaulting an officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other traffic related offences, sentencing him to two weeks of community service.
The court also ordered him to pay ₦1.08 million in compensation.
The judgment followed his prosecution by the FRSC FCT Sector Command after he was arraigned over an incident that occurred during a routine traffic enforcement operation in the Federal Capital Territory.
A statement signed by the corps spokesperson Osondu Ohaeri in Abuja on Wednesday, disclosed that the court found the offender guilty of dangerous driving, driver’s licence violation and assaulting an FRSC Marshal in the lawful discharge of his duties.
” In addition to the community service sentence, the court directed him to pay ₦580,000 to the FRSC FCT Sector Command for the repair of the damaged patrol vehicle and ₦500,000 to cover the medical expenses of the injured Marshal,” he said.
He added that the incident occurred at about 8:30 a.m. when the convict, driving a vehicle with registration number RBC 398 DQ, was flagged down by an FRSC patrol team for a traffic violation. Instead of complying with the lawful directive to stop, he allegedly accelerated, knocked down the arresting Marshal and rammed into the Corps patrol vehicle in an attempt to evade arrest.
“The attack left the Marshal 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,” he said.
Reacting to the judgment, the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, described the conviction as a strong affirmation that assaults on FRSC personnel and attempts to obstruct lawful enforcement operations would not be tolerated and would attract appropriate legal sanctions.
He reiterated that traffic laws are designed to protect all road users and urged motorists to cooperate with FRSC personnel by obeying traffic regulations and complying with lawful directives during patrol and enforcement operations.
The FRSC said the conviction underscores its resolve to protect its personnel while ensuring that acts of violence against law enforcement officers are decisively addressed through the judicial process.