By Chinenye Jane Anaeme
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has strongly refuted a recent media report alleging that its officers demanded a bribe from one Mr. Shebb Emmanuel Ugochukwu during a 2022 traffic stop, describing the claim as false, misleading, and a deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of the Corps.
Reacting to the publication, Assistant Corps Marshal and Corps Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide, said the report misrepresented the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal in the case of Shebb Emmanuel Ugochukwu vs FRSC & Others by suggesting that bribery was involved and litigated in court, a claim he said is both baseless and misleading.
“At no point did any FRSC personnel solicit or receive a bribe from Mr. Ugochukwu. He was lawfully stopped and booked for verifiable traffic offences, including driving with worn-out tyres and without a spare tyre. The issue before the court was one of fundamental rights, not a criminal case of bribery,” Ogungbemide stated.
He noted that the bribery allegation was never part of the legal proceedings, either at the Abia State High Court or at the Court of Appeal, adding that it was deceitful and irresponsible to insinuate that bribery was a subject of judicial determination.
The Assistant Corps Marshal further clarified that while the High Court initially awarded ₦30 million in damages against the FRSC, the Court of Appeal significantly reduced the sum to ₦10 million. He cited the appellate court’s critical observation, which described the respondent’s demands as a “desire for gold digging” and warned against abusing legal processes for personal gain.
“It is ironic that a party whose claims were discredited by the Court of Appeal would now resort to spinning false bribery narratives in the media to win public sympathy,” Ogungbemide added.
He revealed that the FRSC legal team is currently reviewing the judgment and may pursue further legal remedies if necessary, underscoring the Corps’ resolve to protect the integrity of its personnel and the rule of law.
“The Federal Road Safety Corps remains committed to transparency, accountability, and professionalism in service. No amount of media distortion will distract us from our mandate of making Nigerian roads safer,” Ogungbemide affirmed.
He also called on the public to continue supporting FRSC officers in the discharge of their duties, noting that sustained collaboration is vital to reducing crashes and saving lives across the country.
