A mobile court sitting in Calabar on Wednesday convicted 34 traffic offenders for attempting to bribe officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), reinforcing the agency’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption.
Magistrate Abigail Asuquo, who presided over the proceedings, handed down the judgment after the accused pleaded guilty to charges brought against them by FRSC prosecuting officer, Mr. Presley Orhue.
In her ruling, Magistrate Asuquo declared:
“Having listened to the plea of the offenders, wherein they pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them by the FRSC, they have an option—either serve one week in prison or pay a fine of N10,000 each. This is the stipulated fine for attempting to corrupt Marshals on duty.”
Beyond bribery, other traffic-related offences were penalized. Motorists found guilty of overloading and driving without a valid driver’s licence were fined N10,000 each. Seat belt violations attracted a fine of N2,000, while failure to install a speed limiting device came with a N3,000 penalty.
Speaking after the court session, Cross River State FRSC Sector Commander, Innocent Etuk, condemned the rising trend of bribery attempts against road safety operatives. He reaffirmed the corps’ commitment to eradicating corruption on Nigerian roads.
“The FRSC has zero tolerance for any form of corruption. Any motorist caught attempting to bribe our operatives will face the full weight of the law,” Etuk stated.
He urged drivers to comply with traffic laws, noting that the corps is working toward its 2025 strategic goal of reducing road traffic fatalities and injuries by 10% through targeted interventions.
“Drivers must stop overloading vehicles, using phones while driving, refusing to wear seat belts, and most importantly, attempting to bribe patrol operatives. These actions are dangerous and unacceptable,” he warned.
The mobile court’s operations were made possible following an application by the FRSC to the Chief Judge of Cross River State for the establishment of a special court to ensure swift justice for traffic offenders. The request was granted under Section 10(8) of the FRSC Establishment Act, 2007.
