Appeal Court upholds ban on FRSC from operating on state roads

The Court of Appeal in Asaba, Delta State, has upheld the decision of the Federal High Court to ban the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) from operating on state and local roads across the country. This decision stems from a 2019 ruling by the Federal High Court that declared the FRSC lacked the legal authority to engage in activities on non-federal highways.

The case was initiated by Darlington Ehikim, a lawyer and member of the Nigerian Bar Association in Delta State. The trial court ruled in his favor, restraining the FRSC from operating on any roads apart from federal highways, and also imposing a cost of ₦10 million against the commission.

The FRSC decided to appeal the decision to the Court of Appeal. However, on Monday, Judge E. Nwite delivered the verdict, dismissing the FRSC’s appeal and affirming the trial court’s decision. As a result, the FRSC’s operations are now confined exclusively to federal roads throughout the country.

In response to the judgment, the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Dauda Biu, expressed the commission’s intention to further appeal the decision.

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Meanwhile, the FRSC’s spokesperson, Bisi Kazeem, has stated that the commission is seeking a stay of execution of the appellate court judgment. At present, the commission has been informed about the ruling but has not received a copy.

Kazeem assures the public that once they obtain the copy of the judgment, they will carefully review it and make an informed decision. In the meantime, he urges the public to remain calm.

However, he also acknowledges that the judgment indicates that FRSC officials will be unable to respond to or provide assistance to accident victims on roads other than federal highways. The commission remains committed to ensuring the safety of all road users and will explore all legal avenues to address the situation.

“We understand the concerns that may arise due to this judgment, and we assure the public that we are actively working towards finding a favorable resolution for all parties involved,” said Kazeem. “In the meantime, we kindly ask for your patience and understanding as we navigate through this challenge.”

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