Court Jails Motorist Three Months for Dangerous Driving in Abuja

By our Correspondent

A High Court in Abuja has sentenced Mr. Yusuf Baba to three months’ imprisonment or an option of a ₦50,000 fine for dangerous driving.

The court further directed him to pay ₦3,190,000 as compensation for damages caused to a Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) patrol vehicle and other impounded vehicles during his attempt to evade arrest.

The incident occurred on June 10, 2025, under the Dantata Bridge, Abuja, when FRSC operatives flagged Baba down for overloading. Instead of complying, he sped off recklessly, lost control, and rammed into the Corps’ patrol vehicle and another offender’s car before fleeing the scene.

He was later arrested at a filling station along CITEC Road and charged with dangerous driving and assaulting a marshal on duty.

Delivering judgment on October 29, 2025, the court found Baba guilty of dangerous driving and sentenced him accordingly, while discharging him on the count of assault.

Besides the sentence and fine, the court also suspended his driver’s licence for three months and ordered full restitution for the vehicles damaged during the incident.

Reacting to the ruling, the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, hailed the judgment as a victory for road safety and accountability, commending both the judiciary and the Corps’ Legal Department for their commitment to justice.

He described the verdict as proof that the era of impunity on Nigerian roads is over.

“Anyone who endangers lives, attacks law enforcement, or damages public property will face the full wrath of the law. FRSC will never back down in defending the safety and dignity of its operatives and road users,” he stated.

Mohammed urged motorists to obey traffic regulations, respect law enforcement officers, and drive responsibly, reaffirming the Corps’ resolve to protect lives and maintain order on Nigerian roads.