The Federal Road
Safety Commission (FRSC), has prosecuted 37 road traffic offenders for violating various traffic regulation in Akwa Ibom State.
The Akwa Ibom Sector Commander of the commission, Mr Ocheja Ameh, said this while briefing newsmen at the end of a mobile court session in Uyo, recently.
He said that out of the number prosecuted, 34 were convicted for various traffic offences and given various fines.
Ameh said that three of the offenders, who pleaded not guilty, were remanded in prison custody and would be tried in a Magistrates’ Court.
He said that the mobile court was part of the commission’s enforcement strategy, to reduce road traffic crashes by 15 per cent and fatality rate by 25 per cent in 2014.
The sector commander said that the offences of the motorists ranged from drivers’ licence violation to seat belt violation and use of mobile phones while driving.
“The mobile court has yielded a lot of result because the moment a court sentences you, you become an ex-convict and people are afraid of you.
“A lot of people that are arrested by our patrol team feel it is only to pay money. So, mobile court has really helped us to curb road crashes in the country.
“To us, it is good; that is why we will continue to use mobile court to prosecute road traffic offenders.”
He warned those driving without identification number plate to stop as it is an offence to do so.
“No driver is expected to drive any vehicle without identification number; even if the vehicle is imported, it should come with its foreign number.
“Owners are expected to use it for three months after which you are expected to change to a Nigerian number of your choice.
“So after three months, if you are found with the vehicle without any identification number, you will be arrested,” Ameh said.
The sector commander hinted that the command would soon extend the mobile court to all parts of the state so as to check the drivers’ excesses.
He said that drivers would be encouraged to attend sensitisation campaigns in their motor parks, so a to imbibe safe driving culture.
