The Court of Appeal in Asaba, Delta State, has affirmed the judgment of the Federal High Court, upholding the restriction on the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) from operating on state and local roads across Nigeria. The ruling, which was delivered by Justice E. Nwite on Monday, has significant implications for the FRSC’s operations.
The legal battle stems from a 2019 Federal High Court ruling in Warri, which asserted that the FRSC has no legal authority to carry out activities on state and local government roads. The court ruled that the FRSC’s jurisdiction is limited to federal roads exclusively.
Unsatisfied with the initial judgment, the FRSC appealed to the Court of Appeal in a bid to overturn the restriction and regain the ability to operate on all types of roads. However, the Court of Appeal, in its recent decision, dismissed the FRSC’s appeal, reiterating that their jurisdiction is limited solely to federal roads.
In response to the judgment, the FRSC expressed its intention to challenge the ruling in a statement shared on Twitter by the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA). The Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Dauda Biu, asserted that the judgment would curtail the FRSC’s ability to respond to accidents on roads other than federal ones.
As the FRSC awaits a copy of the judgment, Biu emphasized that the commission would carefully review it before making any further decisions. He also urged the public to remain calm during this period of legal deliberation.
The ruling has sparked debates and concerns among citizens and road users, as the restriction potentially impacts the FRSC’s ability to respond to emergencies and provide assistance on state and local roads. As the legal battle continues, both supporters and critics of the court’s decision await the next steps in this ongoing saga.