FRSC convicts 245 traffic offenders, nabs military impersonator in Abuja clampdown

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has secured 245 convictions following a week-long mobile court operation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which also led to the arrest of a man impersonating the military.

The operation, codenamed Operation Restore Sanity IV, ran from 8–12 September at the Nyanya Unit Command and on 10 September at the Karu Unit Command. It was conducted in partnership with the Nigerian Correctional Service and the Nigerian Army Brigade of Guards to tackle rising cases of traffic indiscipline along the busy Abuja–Nyanya corridor, a stretch notorious for reckless driving, overloading and route violations.

A total of 254 offenders were arraigned for 563 traffic-related offences. While 245 were convicted, nine were discharged after due consideration by the court.

The majority of offences included:

129 cases of seatbelt violation

122 cases of driver’s licence violation

111 cases of overloading

63 cases of route violation

Other infractions ranged from dangerous driving, traffic light violations and wrongful overtaking, to use of mobile phones while driving, number plate violations, caution sign breaches and impersonation.

Among the offenders, seven notorious drivers were singled out for multiple offences. They included Shaab Murtala, Abel Sunday, Sunday Salasi, Benjamin Augustine, Ekem Charles, Hussaini Kabir and Samsudeen Abdullahi. Their punishments ranged from three hours to five days of community service.

In one of the most striking cases, Hussaini Kabir was found guilty not only of committing traffic offences but also of impersonating the military. He was sentenced to five days of community service at Mambilla Barracks.

The sittings were presided over by His Worship Maryam Muazu Alhaji and His Worship Huzaifa Maccido, with CRC Cindy Talabi, the FCT Sector Legal Officer, serving as prosecuting counsel.

FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, hailed the outcome of the exercise, commending the FCT Command for sustaining interventions aimed at deterring offenders and restoring discipline on the roads. He explained that the mobile court sittings were ordered at his instance, as part of a national strategy to curb traffic indiscipline.

“Similar exercises will be replicated across all states of the Federation,” Mohammed said. “We will continue to strengthen enforcement, deter habitual violators, and ensure safer roads nationwide. Motorists must desist from dangerous driving, route violations, overloading and all forms of recklessness. The FRSC will not relent in prosecuting offenders to safeguard lives and restore sanity on Nigerian roads.”