Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A Magistrate Court sitting in Tudun Wada, Kano State, has convicted three road traffic offenders for obstructing operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps during a routine enforcement operation. The conviction was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the Public Education Officer of the FRSC Kano Sector Command, Abdullahi Labaran. According to the statement, the convicts — Sani Saidu, Ma’arazu Sani and Suwedi Muhammad — were arrested on July 10 after allegedly obstructing FRSC patrol operatives during a routine enforcement exercise and inciting members of the public against officers carrying out lawful duties.
The statement said the suspects were subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Police Force, Tudun Wada Division, for investigation and prosecution. The three defendants appeared before the Magistrate Court on July 14, where they pleaded guilty to charges of criminal conspiracy, obstructing public servants in the discharge of lawful duties, and assaulting public servants with threats to cause injury. "The Court convicted the three offenders under Sections 96, 148 and 263 of the Penal Code and sentenced each of them to three weeks’ imprisonment or a fine of ₦30,000 for criminal conspiracy; one month’s imprisonment or a fine of ₦40,000 for obstructing public servants on lawful duties; and two weeks’ imprisonment or a fine of ₦20,000 for assault on public servants and threats to cause injury," the statement read.
The court also informed the convicts of their right to appeal the judgment within 30 days. Reacting to the judgment, the Sector Commander, CC Idris Mohammed Lawal, commended the judiciary and the Nigeria Police Force for ensuring the prosecution of the offenders. He warned that anyone who obstructs or assaults FRSC personnel carrying out lawful duties would be prosecuted in accordance with the law and urged members of the public to cooperate with road safety officials.
The conviction comes amid a broader push by the Senate to strengthen the FRSC's enforcement powers, as lawmakers recently passed amendments to the FRSC Act introducing stiffer penalties for traffic offences, including a ₦50,000 fine for hawking or preaching in commercial buses and ₦100,000 fines for drink-driving and reckless driving. The Kano case serves as a warning that motorists and members of the public who interfere with FRSC operatives on duty risk prosecution and custodial sentences. The FRSC has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring road safety and warned that it will not tolerate any form of obstruction or assault against its personnel.
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