The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) intends to appeal a decision by a Court of Appeal in Asaba, Delta State, that has barred its officials from operating on state and Local Government (LG) roads limiting them only to federal roads.
Corps Marshal Dauda Ali Biu criticized the verdict in a statement issued by FRSC spokesman Bisi Kazeem, saying “the implication of the said judgement is that our personnel would not be able to attend or rescue crash victims on roads other than federal roads.”
Biu said in a statement on Tuesday that the Corps will seek a stay of execution as well as an appeal in the case No. CA/AS/276/2019 involving the FRSC and Darlington Ugo Ehikim.
“We are aware of the judgement of the Court of Appeal Asaba Judicial Division from the briefing received from our Legal Representatives. However, as at the moment, we are yet to obtain a Certified True Copy of the judgement,” the Corps Marshal said.
“As soon as we obtain same, we would take time to look at the judgement and make an informed decision on it. Until then, we urge the public to remain calm.”
FRSC’s legal battle
The Federal Court of Appeal in Asaba, Delta State, upheld the Federal High Court’s decision barring the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, from operating on state and municipal highways in Nigeria.
BizWatch Nigeria recalls that in 2019, a Federal High Court sitting in Warri ordered that the FRSC may only function on federal roadways.
It ruled that FRSC had no legal authority to operate on state and local government highways.
Dissatisfied with the result, the FRSC appealed to the Court of Appeal.
In his judgement on Monday, Justice E. Nwite denied the FRSC’s appeal and limited the Corps’ operations to just federal roadways in various areas of the country.
