The Corps Marshall, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, has urged road users to obey extant traffic laws and regulations in their overall legal interest and safety.
Oyeyemi, in a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Mr Sani Abdullahi, appealed to the public to disregard erroneous reports concerning the statutory functions of the Commission.
The Corps Marshall, while assuring the public of FRSC’s resolve to perform its duties within the ambit of the law, called for collaboration to ensure a safe road environment.
“The FRSC has a number of judicial pronouncements which officially stated that it has adequate legal and statutory backing to perform its functions.
“This power is contained in the Federal Road Safety Commission (Establishment) Act, 2007 and the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012.
“While there are cases decided against the FRSC in the recent past, there are equally cases delivered at the High Courts and Court of Appeal in its favour,’’ he said.
The Corps Marshall specifically cited cases from the Federal and State High Courts which were in favour of the FRSC.
“Those judgments emphasised the constitutional powers of the FRSC to arrest erring road traffic offenders.
“The judgments also emphasised the constitutional powers of the FRSC to impound vehicles used to commit such offences and impose statutorily stipulated fines,’’ Oyeyemi said.
He specifically cited the Oct. 31 judgment of the Court of Appeal in the FRSC vs Emmanuel Ofoegbu case, amongst others.
“More importantly, the Oct. 31 judgment of the Court of Appeal in the FRSC vs Emmanuel Ofoegbu case made it abundantly clear that FRSC has statutory and constitutional powers to arrest.
“It also has the powers to detain vehicles of road traffic violators, and equally regulate and set deadline for the usage and renewal of motor vehicle licences, number plates and driver licences.’’
Oyeyemi then appealed to all road users to be careful so as to ensure a crash-free, peaceful and joyful yuletide celebration in the next few weeks. NAN
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