The Federal Road Safety Corps has described the conviction and life imprisonment of Okpara Onyekachi as a landmark victory for justice and road safety enforcement 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.
The case arose from a fatal road crash that claimed the life of an FRSC officer who was lawfully on duty.
The FRSC Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, said this in a statement by the Corps Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide, on Friday in Abuja.
According to him, the incident occurred on November 16, 2023, at Orile-Iganmu, Lagos State, during a routine traffic enforcement operation by an FRSC patrol team.
“Investigations revealed that the defendant, who was driving a 40-foot container-laden truck at excessive speed, failed to exercise due care and rammed into a stationary mini truck that had been flagged down for inspection.
“The impact crushed Deputy Chief Road Marshal Assistant (DCRMA), Ajomale, who was actively discharging his official duties, inflicting fatal injuries.
“The court held that the driver’s actions were grossly negligent, reckless, and unlawful, rejected any claim of accident, and consequently convicted him of involuntary manslaughter.
“He was sentenced to life imprisonment under the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015,” he said.
Mohammed said the judgment sends a strong and unmistakable message to all road users, particularly operators of heavy-duty vehicles, that recklessness on Nigerian roads will no longer be tolerated.
He stressed that whenever a life was lost due to gross negligence, especially the life of an officer on lawful duty, the law would take its full course, adding that the Corps would continue to pursue justice for every fallen officer and innocent road user.
The Corps Marshal further disclosed that the FRSC would intensify enforcement, strengthen prosecution support, and deepen collaboration with stakeholders to curb dangerous driving behaviours nationwide.
He warned that drivers who flout traffic regulations and endanger lives should expect severe legal consequences, reaffirming the Corps’ unwavering commitment to safeguarding Nigerian roads.
He also noted that the entire management and staff of the FRSC honoured the memory of DCRMA Ajomale, whose sacrifice remains a sobering reminder of the risks faced daily by road safety personnel in the line of duty.
(NAN)
