By Chidi Ugwu
A Magistrate Court sitting in Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State has sentenced Mr Kazeem Abdullahi a motorist to 1 month imprisonment for attacking patrol operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps while performing their lawful duties along Oye-Ifaki road, EKITI State.
According to a statement signed by Olusegun Ogungbemide, Assistant Corps Marshal, Corps Public Education Officer, 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.
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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.
While lamenting the attacks on FRSC personnel overtime, which often result in loss of lives of patrolmen on the highways, the Corps Marshal warned the motoring community, particularly the recalcitrants who have made it habitual to attack security agencies to desist from such henceforth, or face the wrath of the law squarely.
