The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC has debunked an online report by a human rights activist, Mr Okoye Chuka Peter of the Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society, CEHRAWS titled, FRSC’s Ubakala Mobile Court: Where justice is missing but fines are not.”
FRSC also denied imposing arbitrary fines on offenders or acting outside its constitutional jurisdiction.
A statement signed by J.K. Igbonekwu, the Sector Public Education Officer of Abia State Sector Command, described the report as a baseless falsehood against the FRSC.
The statement described the report as a deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of the Corps and undermine its constitutionally backed and legally constituted Mobile Court sitting in Ubakala, Abia State.
FRSC explained that every case heard at Ubakala Mobile Court followed due legal procedures where offenders were informed of their rights, had their charges clearly read out to them and offered the opportunity to be heard before decisions were taken.
It dismissed the claims that the Mobile Court in Ubakala was solely manned by FRSC, saying that it is legally composed of a Presiding Magistrate duly assigned by the Abia State judiciary, Court Clerk, prosecuting legal officer representing the Corps, FRSC law enforcement officers, Marshalls, with Police maintaining order.
The FRSC which said that the people may be misled and significant gains made in road safety enforcement across the nation eroded by the publication, insisted that there are video evidence including attendance, logs, judicial records and video documentations that proved the allegations otherwise.
The Corps said it would be exploring a legal option to redress the publication and its named sponsors.
FRSC denies operating ‘Mobile Court of Injustice’ in Abia