The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has refuted claims that its officials were involved in bribery in a case that the Appeal Court has just adjudicated upon, saying the reports making the rounds are mischievous and misleading.
In a press statement sent to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), the Corps noted that the publication alleged that FRSC officers demanded a bribe from one Mr. Ugochukwu and, upon his refusal, booked him for traffic violations involving worn-out tyres and the absence of a spare tyre. It therefore, condemned the report as deceitful and irresponsible.
The statement debunked the notion, saying that what was brought before the court borders on enforcement of fundamental rights, and not bribery matter.
Below is the full statement as signed by the Public Education Officer, ACM Olusegun Ogungbemide;
The attention of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has been drawn to a misleading and mischievous report concerning the judgement of the Court of Appeal in the case between Mr. Shebb Emmanuel Ugochukwu vs FRSC and two others, stemming from an incident that occurred in 2022.
The publication falsely alleged that FRSC officers demanded a bribe from Mr. Ugochukwu and, upon his refusal, booked him for traffic violations involving worn-out tyres and the absence of a spare tyre. This accusation is not only baseless but appears to be a calculated attempt to tarnish the image of the Corps and incite public resentment against its officers.
For avoidance of doubt, Mr. Ugochukwu was lawfully stopped and booked for verifiable traffic offences committed by him. At no point during the encounter did any FRSC personnel solicit or receive any form of gratification. The allegation of bribery was never presented in court—neither at the Abia State High Court nor at the Court of Appeal. The issue before the court was one of fundamental rights enforcement, and not a criminal case of bribery. It is, therefore, deceitful and irresponsible to publish a report inferring that bribery was adjudicated upon or established in the course of the proceedings.
The Abia State High Court had awarded the sum of ₦30,000,000 (Thirty Million Naira) against the FRSC. Dissatisfied with this judgment, the Corps appealed, particularly contesting the excessive nature of the damages among others. The Court of Appeal rightly reduced the award to ₦10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) and strongly criticized the plaintiff’s demands, describing them as “a desire for gold digging.” The court further cautioned against attempts to exploit the legal process for unjust enrichment, citing precedent from the Supreme Court.
It is deeply ironic that a party whose claims were characterized by the court as gold-digging would turn around to falsely accuse law enforcement officers of bribery. This deliberate distortion of facts, intended to draw public sympathy and shift focus from the unfavorable court ruling, is condemnable.
We also wish to emphasize that the FRSC legal team is actively reviewing the procedural grounds upon which the judgment was reached, and may explore further legal remedies as necessary. This underscores our commitment to upholding justice, fairness, and the professional conduct of our personnel.
We vehemently and unequivocally reject the false narrative that FRSC personnel demanded bribes during their interaction with Mr. Ugochukwu. This is a serious criminal allegation which was not canvassed or substantiated in any court of law.
The Federal Road Safety Corps remains committed to transparency, accountability, and service excellence. No amount of mudslinging or media manipulation will deter us from our statutory responsibilities of ensuring safety on Nigerian roads. We therefore appeal for continued public understanding, support, and protection, so that our officers can serve with the confidence and dedication required to reduce road crashes and save lives.
