Court Vindicates FRSC on N20m Suit in Bauchi
By Admin 13th April, 2025
A Federal High Court in Bauchi state has vindicated the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in a N20 million suit filed against it by one Dr. Ibrahim Danjuma and one other person in the state.
In a suit number FHC/BAU/CS/03/2024 sighted by our Correspondent, the plaintiffs had by way of originating summons, through their Lawyer, H.D Ismaila brought an action against FRSC seeking a declaration, that FRSC has no powers or jurisdiction to patrol on state roads in Bauchi and or within Bauchi metropolis.
Dr Danjuma further claimed the sum of N20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million) Naira as exemplary and general damages for harassment of road users by the FRSC officials.
However, a Preliminary Objection and a counter affidavit was filed by the defendant’s counsel, Estine Okolo with necessary exhibits.
The Presiding Judge, Hon. Justice Aisha Ibrahim of the Federal High Court, while delivering the Judgement on Friday, dismissed the suit and held that the plaintiffs did not place evidence before the court to show that the roads complained of were state roads.
She also ruled that there was no evidence to show harassment of road users adding that the Plaintiffs had not discharged the burden of proof on them.
When contacted, Mr Istifanus Ibrahim, the Sector Commander, FRSC in the state said that if road safety enforcement and rescue services were restricted to state or federal roads, it would not augur well.
“This is because when it comes to saving lives, it should not be defined as this is a federal or state road.
“If there is a road traffic crash now, the personnel going for a rescue mission will not go and stand there and discriminate by saying these people are on state or federal roads.
“There is the need for us to avoid this kind of dichotomy as to looking at the road as a state or federal road.
“We are on the road and we don't discriminate whether somebody is on state or federal road as our mission is to save lives and the lives we save is for Nigerians and not for a state or federal”. He said.
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