The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has described the conviction and life sentence handed to Okpara Onyekachi as a major milestone in the enforcement of road safety laws and the pursuit of justice in Nigeria.
The judgment was delivered by the High Court of Lagos State, TBS Division, in Suit No. LD/24692C/2024, The State v. Okpara Onyekachi, following a fatal road crash that claimed the life of an FRSC officer who was on lawful duty.
In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the Corps Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, said the incident occurred on November 16, 2023, at Orile-Iganmu, Lagos State, during a routine traffic enforcement operation by an FRSC patrol team.
According to him, investigations showed that the defendant, who was driving a 40-foot container-laden truck at excessive speed, failed to exercise due caution and rammed into a stationary mini truck that had been flagged down for inspection.
The impact, he said, crushed Deputy Chief Road Marshal Assistant (DCRMA) Ajomale, who was actively performing his official duties at the time, resulting in fatal injuries.
Mohammed explained that the court found the driver’s actions to be grossly negligent, reckless and unlawful, dismissed claims that the incident was accidental, and consequently convicted him of involuntary manslaughter. He was sentenced to life imprisonment under the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The Corps Marshal noted that the judgment sends a strong message to all road users, particularly operators of heavy-duty vehicles, that reckless driving will no longer be tolerated on Nigerian roads.
He stressed that whenever a life is lost due to gross negligence specially that of an officer on lawful duty the law will be allowed to take its full course. He added that the FRSC remains committed to seeking justice for fallen officers and innocent road users.
Mohammed further disclosed that the Corps would intensify enforcement efforts, strengthen prosecution support and deepen collaboration with relevant stakeholders to curb dangerous driving nationwide.
He warned that motorists who flout traffic regulations and endanger lives should expect severe legal consequences, reaffirming the FRSC’s unwavering commitment to road safety.
He also stated that the management and staff of the FRSC continue to honour the memory of DCRMA Ajomale, whose death serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced daily by road safety personnel in the line of duty.
Elijah Adeyemi
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