A Magistrate Court sitting in Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Thursday, sentenced Mr. Kazeem Abdullahi, a motorist, to one month in prison for assaulting Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) operatives while they were performing their lawful duties on the Oye-Ifaki road.
Mr. Abdullahi was arraigned before Senior Magistrate Salau ME of the Oye Ekiti Magistrate Court under case file number MOY/15C/2024 on a lone count charge of assault on a law enforcement officer, under Section 187 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State 2021. The court found him guilty of the charges.
However, in consideration of Mr. Abdullahi’s status as a first-time offender with dependants, and his apology to the FRSC, the court sentenced him to one month in prison or a fine of ₦5,000 in lieu of imprisonment.
The second defendant in the case, Alhaji Dauda, was discharged and acquitted after the court ruled that he was presumed innocent.
The incident, which occurred on April 22, 2024, began when Mr. Abdullahi and Mr. Dauda, who were stopped at an FRSC patrol point, became confrontational. The motorcycle rider, Dauda, had been apprehended for overloading his vehicle and riding without a helmet. As the arresting officers tried to carry out their duties, Abdullahi, who was a passenger, became agitated and assaulted one of the FRSC personnel.
The case was initially brought before the court on May 9, 2024, where Mr. Abdullahi pleaded not guilty. After several court appearances, the case was adjourned, and the verdict was handed down on October 14, 2024.
In reaction to the ruling, Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide, the Corps Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps, commended the judiciary for the swift dispensation of justice. He emphasized that this verdict serves as a strong message to anyone who assaults public officers on duty, warning that such actions would not be tolerated.
Ogungbemide also expressed concern over the increasing number of attacks on FRSC personnel, which have sometimes led to fatalities among the officers. “This judgment serves as a strong warning to the public that no one who assaults law enforcement officers will go unpunished,” Ogungbemide stated. He called on the motoring public, especially those who habitually attack security agencies, to desist from such behavior or face the full consequences of the law.
The FRSC remains committed to ensuring the safety of both motorists and its personnel, and this case underscores the importance of respecting law enforcement officers performing their duties.
