The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has welcomed a recent judgment from the Federal High Court, which legally affirms its authority to penalise motorists for violating traffic regulations, particularly those concerning number plate standards.
In a statement released on thursday in Abuja, the corps public education officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide, stated that the judgment, delivered on june 23, 2025, by Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos, serves as a powerful validation of the corps’ enforcement mandate. the ruling reinforces the FRSC’s position that it is within its legal rights to sanction drivers who fail to adhere to established number plate protocols.
The decision is a significant step in the ongoing effort to ensure road safety and compliance with traffic laws across the country.
It came in suit number FHC/L/CS/2367/2024 between Ojo Victor Olomi and the Federal Road Safety Commission.
Ogungbemide said that in the well-considered judgement, the court dismissed Olomi’s claims challenging the legality of the fine imposed on him and the confiscation of his driver’s licence by FRSC officials.
He said that the case stemmed from the applicant’s unlawful hand-painting of his vehicle’s number plate, rendering it non-reflective and in breach of the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2016.
According to him, the regulation mandates that all number plates remain reflective for visibility, security, and enforcement purposes.
“Justice Kakaki affirmed that the applicant’s action was a violation recognised by law and declared that the confiscation of his driver’s licence did not infringe on his fundamental human rights, as claimed.
“The court also drew a clear line between this case and an earlier judgement in Chinwike Ezebube v. FRSC, stressing that hand-painted number plates remain a punishable traffic offence,” he said.
Ogungbemide described the ruling as a landmark judicial endorsement of its powers to enforce road safety laws and a validation of its statutory responsibilities.
“This verdict serves as a significant nod from the judiciary validating the powers and responsibilities of the FRSC in enforcing traffic regulations.
“This is particularly as they relate to vehicle identification and road safety compliance,”he said.
Reacting, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, urged all motorists to desist from acts that compromised road safety and violate established regulations, such as tampering with or altering number plates.
Mohammed also called on the public to ignore misleading interpretations of previous court rulings and take due note of the legal clarity provided by the new judgement.
“The FRSC remains committed to its mission of creating a safer motoring environment and will continue to carry out its lawful duties.
“This will be with professionalism, integrity, and respect for the rights of all Nigerians,” he said.
