By Nkechi Eze
A Magistrate Court in Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, has sentenced a motorist, Mr. Kazeem Abdullahi, to one month in prison. Abdullahi was found guilty of attacking Federal Road Safety Corps operatives who were performing their duties along the Oye-Ifaki road in Ekiti State.
Mr Kazeem was arraigned with a case file number MOY/15C/2024 before His Worship, Snr Magistrate Salau ME of the Oye Ekiti Magistrate Court on a lone count charge under Section 187 of the Criminal Law of EKITI State 2021, bordering on assault on a law enforcement officer.
Giving the judgement by His Worship on the matter, the Defendant was found guilty as charged, but in view of the fact that Kazeem is a first time offender, with dependants; and having also apologized to FRSC, was sentenced to 1 month imprisonment or a fine of #5000 in lieu of imprisonment.
The offender was charged alongside Alhaji Dauda the 1st defendant who was presumed innocent, thereby discharged and acquitted.
The matter which occured on 22 April, 2024 was first presented before His Worship on 09 May, 2024 when the Defendant pleaded not guilty. The case witnessed other subsequent appearances before it was finally adjourned on 14 October, 2024 when the verdict was pronounced.
The two Defendants, Mr Kazeem Abdullahi who was a passenger and Alhaji Dauda, the rider of the motorcycle, were stopped at FRSC patrol point when Kazeem became provocative and assaulted the personnel on duty.
The rider who was apprehended for committing the offences of overloading with persons and riding motorcycle without helmet, went berserk at the point of arrest, as one of the passengers he carried started assaulting the arresting Marshal in uniform.
Reacting to the judgement, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Shehu Mohammed commended the Judiciary for quick dispensation of justice, noting that this, like other judgements is an indication and strong warning to perpetrators of such acts, that no member of the public who assaults public officer on duty, no matter how small will be spared.
The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has issued a stern warning to motorists, particularly those who have made it a habit to attack security personnel. He condemned the recurring attacks on FRSC personnel, which have unfortunately led to the loss of lives of patrolmen on the highways. The Corps Marshal emphasized that such attacks will no longer be tolerated and urged the motoring community to desist from such behavior, or face the full force of the law.
