The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has intensified its clampdown on traffic violators under the ongoing Operation Restore Sanity IV, arresting 254 offenders, including a military impersonator; and securing a total of 245 convictions during a series of Mobile Court sittings.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the corps, said the mobile court sat at Nyanya Unit Command and at Karu Unit Command in Abuja.
The special operation, carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian Correctional Service and the Nigerian Army Brigade of Guards, was specifically designed to address the rising tide of traffic indiscipline along the busy Abuja–Nyanya corridor, notorious for route violations, overloading, and reckless driving.
In all, 254 offenders were arraigned for committing a total of 563 traffic-related offences. Out of these, 245 were convicted, while 9 were discharged after due consideration by the court.
The offences cut across a wide spectrum, including: Seatbelt violation 129 cases, Driver’s licence violation 122 cases, Overloading 111 cases, as well as Route violation 63 cases.
Other offences such as dangerous driving, traffic light violation, number plate violation, wrongful overtaking, use of phone while driving, caution sign violation, and impersonation were also booked.
A statement issued on Sunday by Assistant Corps Marshal, Corps Public Education Office, Olusegun Ogungbemide said that a notable aspect of the sittings was the conviction of seven notorious offenders: Shaab Murtala, Abel Sunday, Sunday Salasi, Benjamin Augustine, Ekem Charles, Hussaini Kabir, and Samsudeen Abdullahi.
He noted: “They were found guilty of multiple offences, including dangerous driving, impersonation, overloading, driver’s licence violation, use of phone while driving, and route violation. Their punishments ranged from three hours to five days of community service.
“In a striking case, Hussaini Kabir, who not only committed traffic offences but also impersonated the military, was handed a five day community service sentence to be served at Mambilla Barracks.
“The Mobile Court sittings were presided over by His Worship Maryam Muazu Alhaji and His Worship Huzaifa Maccido, while the FCT Sector Legal Officer CRC Cindy Talabi, served as the prosecuting counsel.”
Speaking on the outcome of the exercise, the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, commended the FCT Command for sustaining special interventions aimed at deterring violators and restoring discipline on the roads.
He noted that the Mobile Court sittings were held at his instance, as part of a deliberate national strategy to curb traffic indiscipline.
He disclosed that similar exercises will be replicated across all states of the Federation to strengthen enforcement, deter habitual violators, and promote safer roads nationwide.
Mohammed warned motorists to desist from dangerous driving, route violation, overloading, and all forms of recklessness, stressing that the FRSC will not relent in prosecuting offenders to safeguard lives and resto
re sanity on Nigerian roads.