Abuja: The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has expressed satisfaction with a recent judgment by the Federal High Court, which confirmed its authority to penalize motorists who breach traffic regulations, especially those related to number plate standards. Corps Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide, shared this development on Thursday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the ruling was delivered on June 23, 2025, by Justice Musa Kakaki at the Federal High Court in Lagos. The case, identified as suit number FHC/L/CS/2367/2024, involved Ojo Victor Olomi against the Federal Road Safety Commission. Ogungbemide highlighted that the court dismissed Olomi’s objections to the penalties imposed by the FRSC, which included a fine and the confiscation of his driver’s license.
The case originated from Olomi’s unlawful modification of his vehicle’s number plate by hand-painting, which rendered it non-reflective and in violation of the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2016. Ogungbemide stressed that these regulations require number plates to remain reflective for visibility, security, and enforcement purposes.
Justice Kakaki confirmed that Olomi’s actions constituted a legal violation and ruled that the confiscation of his driver’s license did not breach his fundamental human rights. The court distinguished this case from a previous judgment in Chinwike Ezebube v. FRSC, affirming that hand-painted number plates are a punishable offense.
Ogungbemide described the judgment as a significant judicial endorsement of the FRSC’s authority to enforce road safety laws, emphasizing its statutory responsibilities. He stated that the verdict serves as a judicial affirmation of the FRSC’s role in upholding traffic regulations, particularly in ensuring vehicle identification and road safety compliance.
FRSC Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, advised motorists to avoid actions that compromise road safety, such as tampering with number plates. He urged the public to disregard misleading interpretations of previous court rulings and recognize the legal clarity provided by the new judgment. Mohammed reiterated the FRSC’s commitment to creating a safer driving environment and performing its duties with professionalism and integrity.