A mobile court sitting in Benin on Wednesday convicted a motorist, Ayo Okundaye, for attempting to bribe a Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Marshal with N500.
The Magistrate, Mr Friday Igbinosa, who found Okundaye guilty of the three-count charge of driving without a number plate, being in possession of a forged driver’s licence and attempting to bribe an FRSC official on duty, ordered him to pay a fine of N35,000 for the offences.
The convict, who pleaded guilty to the three-count charge, however, told the court that the money was not a bribe but a gratification.
In sentencing the convict, Igbinosa said an act of corruption was a serious offence that the present administration frowns at, saying that “even the commission has zero tolerance for such acts.’’
“I, however, commend you for admitting guilt, but I must warn you to desist from the act and ensure that you always go through appropriate quarters to acquire your vehicle particulars and driver’s licence in future,’’ he said.
The magistrate ordered the forfeiture of the fake driver’s licence to the Federal Government.
Igbinosa also commended the FRSC official for resisting the temptation to receive bribe and urged other marshals to emulate his deed.
The magistrate also tried and convicted 16 other offending motorists for various traffic violations ranging from speed limit, seatbelt, forged vehicle and driver’s documents and overloading, among others.
He ordered the confiscation of forged documents and levied fines ranging beween N3, 000 and N75, 000 on the convicts. (NAN)
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