A Magistrate Court sitting in Benin city, Edo State Monday, sentenced Mr Adeshina Adeyemo, a tricycle operator that assaulted Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) personnel and stripped himself naked along Benin / Sapele road in July 2020 to three months imprisonment for attacking patrol operatives and damaging of patrol vehicle.
According to the FRSC spokesperson, Bisi Kazeem, Mr Adeshina was arraigned before Snr Magistrate F. Ojehumen of the Evbuoriaria Magistrate Court B on a 2 count charge bordering on conducting himself in a manner likely to cause breach of public peace; and for maliciously damaging FRSC patrol vehicle during patrol operations along Sapele-Benin road on 16 July, 2020.
In the judgement, the tricyclist was found guilty as charged, but in line with the 2019 sentencing guidelines, the Magistrate noted that he was entitled to Allocutus, as such, the sentence was mitigated.
On the first count charge, the accused is to pay the sum of #5000 or 1 month imprisonment, and #41,000 or 2 months imprisonment for the second charge and both sentence are to run concurrently. The Defendant who failed to meet the option of fine has been taken into custody at the Nigeria Correctional Service in Benin City.
The spokesman said that the matter which was first presented on 22 July, 2020 when the defendant pleaded not guilty, witnessed over four subsequent appearances before it was finally adjourned on 19 October, 2020 due to the EndSARS protest to 11 January, 2021 when the verdict was pronounced.
Explaining why he was prosecuted, Kazeem recalled that the rider who was apprehended for committing the offences of driving against traffic, driving without a valid drivers license and under the influence of alcohol, went berserk at the point of arrest, stripped himself naked, and started throwing obstacles at both personnel and the patrol vehicle.
This act of incivility and disrespect to Public Officers saw him destroy a staff’s uniform and not only damaged the windscreen of the patrol car, but disfigured the bonnet and other body parts with mud and stone before he was finally arrested, detained in Etete Police Station.
Reacting to the judgement, the Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi commended the Judiciary for quick dispensation of justice, noting that this judgment, like others, is an indication and strong warning to the public that damage to FRSC property will not be tolerated.
While lamenting the attacks on FRSC personnel which often result in loss of lives of patrolmen on the highways, the Corps Marshal warned the motoring community, particularly recalcitrant persons, who have made it a habit of attacking security agents, to desist from such henceforth, or face the wrath of the law.