The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has expressed satisfaction over a recent ruling by the Federal High Court in Lagos, which affirmed its legal authority to sanction road users who flout traffic regulations—particularly those involving tampered or non-standard number plates.
This development was shared in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the Corps Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the judgement was delivered on June 23, 2025, by Justice Musa Kakaki in case number FHC/L/CS/2367/2024 between Ojo Victor Olomi and the FRSC.
Ogungbemide explained that the court rejected the plaintiff’s challenge to the penalties imposed by the FRSC, including the confiscation of his driver’s licence. The applicant had altered his number plate by painting over it, which rendered it non-reflective—an act that violates the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2016.
The law requires that vehicle number plates remain reflective to ensure visibility for enforcement and public safety.
Justice Kakaki ruled that the applicant’s action constituted a valid offence under the law and further clarified that the FRSC’s seizure of the driver’s licence did not breach the individual’s fundamental rights, as was claimed.
The judgement also distinguished this case from an earlier ruling in Chinwike Ezebube v. FRSC, asserting that the act of manually repainting a number plate remains a punishable offence.
Ogungbemide welcomed the ruling as a significant affirmation of the FRSC’s statutory mandate. “This judgement marks a critical judicial confirmation of our role in enforcing road safety laws, particularly concerning proper vehicle identification,” he said.
In his response, Corps Marshal Malam Shehu Mohammed encouraged motorists to avoid actions that undermine road safety, including the tampering or unauthorized alteration of number plates.
He also advised the public to disregard misinterpretations of prior court decisions, emphasizing the legal clarity provided by the latest judgement.
“The FRSC will remain steadfast in its responsibility to maintain safe roads across the country and will continue to perform its duties with professionalism, fairness, and respect for citizens’ rights,” the Corps Marshal added.