In Ibadan, Oyo State, a driver named Alloy Paulinus has been sentenced to three years in correctional service custody by a magistrates court for assaulting officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
The acting Public Education Officer for the FRSC, Olusegun Ogungbemide, provided details in a statement. He explained that during the court session, Magistrate Mrs Olatunji read the charge against Paulinus, which was one count of assaulting a Federal Road Safety officer, an offence punishable under section 356(1) of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol 2 Laws of Oyo State, Nigeria 2000. After hearing the charge, Paulinus pleaded guilty.
Paulinus’s lawyer asked the court for leniency, arguing that this was Paulinus’s first offence and that he was remorseful after spending two days in police custody. The lawyer also requested the release of the truck involved in the incident, which had been held by the FRSC since June 12, 2024.
The court listened to the defence’s plea and the defendant’s confession. Consequently, it sentenced Paulinus to three years in correctional service with the option to pay a fine of N50,000 instead. The magistrate also warned Paulinus not to assault or be rude to any security personnel while they were performing their duties. The court granted the request to release the truck, noting that the medical expenses for the FRSC officers who were injured had been paid.
Shehu Mohammed, the Corps Marshal, expressed satisfaction with the judgment, commending the judiciary for its swift delivery of justice. He also warned other drivers to refrain from assaulting FRSC patrol officers, stating that such behaviour would no longer be tolerated and offenders would face legal consequences.
