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Oyeyemi And Modernisation Of FRSC: An Overview Of Anti Corruption Campaigns By Bisi Kazeem

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5 years ago

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Oyeyemi And Modernisation Of FRSC: An Overview Of Anti Corruption Campaigns By Bisi Kazeem.

 

 

When the Federal Government of Nigeria established the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on 18th February, 1988, it was generally seen as the culmination of all past efforts to address the growing menace of road traffic crashes in the country which put Nigeria road as the most dangerous to drive vehicles on, second only to Ethiopia. The responsibility of bringing down the rate and fatalities of the crashes fell on the founding fathers of the organisation who had earlier proved their mettle in road crash management campaigns through private initiatives.

 

 

With the Nobel Laurette, Professor Wole  Soyinka as the founding Chairman of the Commission working in tandem with Dr Olu Agunloye who was the pioneer Corps Marshal of the FRSC, the foundation of a modern organisation built on the ideals of knowledge, service delivery and technology was solidly laid. The coming of the FRSC with its young men and women bubbling with youthful idealism and armed with various degrees and certificates as the pioneer Marshals took Nigerians by surprise, with their calm mien in public enlightenment programmes, aggressiveness in traffic law enforcement and efficiency in rescue operations which saw them earning instant respect from the generality of Nigerians and giving legitimacy to the new outfit.

 

After 32 years of its corporate existence and producing six Corps Marshals, including those that served briefly in Acting positions who continued to sustain the modernisation process of the Corps, the mantle of leadership fell on Dr Boboye Oyeyemi on 24th July 2014 with his inauguration as the first insider that was appointed into the exalted position. In carrying out this onerous national assignment, Oyeyemi has never looked back in addressing any intractable challenge that could have defied past efforts, having distinguished himself as someone that saw the organisation from its very beginning.

One area that his impact on sustaining the vision of the FRSC as a distinct law environment agency and a lead agency in traffic management and safety administration in Nigeria has remain focused is the area of anti corruption campaign which aligns fully with the philosophy of the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR. In playing its historical role as a model organisation that has been supportive of the socioeconomic goals of the federal government, FRSC under Corps Marshal Boboye Oyeyemi  enthusiastically embraced the anti corruption posture of the government and has continued to lend supportive hands to the campaign.

As many stakeholders pointed out recently, FRSC’s demonstration of anti corruption agenda has been evidenced right from the organisation’s conceptual framework as evident from the institutionalisation of its operational and administrative structures to make service delivery the cornerstone of its ethics. Thus, many questions of corruption and corrupt practices were already answered by the Corps through its diligent administrative and operational mechanisms before they could even become manifest. In his commitment to the success of anti corruption campaign in the FRSC, Oyeyemi ensures that the commands are run efficiently on budgeted allocations which are paid as regularly as the financial releases are made by the federal government to avoid a situation where the commanding officers and patrol teams could be tempted to compromise their responsibilities by resorting to illegal sources of funding their operations.

Through this mechanism, commanding officers are sure of finances to routinely carryout repairs of their operational vehicles and other administrative costs without resort to self-help that could compromise them. Consequently, any operational staff that is found to have compromised the trust of the Corps while on patrol or other official assignments by indulging in bribe taking are not only diligently tried in accordance with the FRSC disciplinary codes, but netted out with the strictest punishment to serve as deterrence to others.

Furthermore, while the law clearly spelt out the amount of fines to be paid by traffic violators as published on the Notices of Offence, Management under Oyeyemi has ensured that the process of effecting such payments are clearly explained to members of the public through regular public enlightenment programmes. Accordingly, whoever goes out of his way to abuse the process by collecting cash from the offenders on the road or in the offices in lieu of the stated procedures are made to pay dearly through appropriate trials and punishments.

In the same vein, though FRSC designs and produces the National Driver’s Licence and number plates, it does not involve itself or the staff in the direct dealing with members of the public who use the documents. Rather, it deals directly with the state government through their agencies such as Vehicle Inspection Officers and State Boards of Internal Revenue under the tripartite arrangement. That’s why Management under Oyeyemi has ensured that the information on the process for acquiring the documents are pasted at strategic locations in the FRSC offices to guide the licence applicants.

In addition, in the deliberate efforts to upgrade the monitoring system of the Corps for efficient outcomes, the Oyeyemi-led Management recently partnered with relevant anti corruption agencies like ICPC and DSS to embark on sting operations where arrested personnel across the country are being tried under the FRSC Disciplinary Panels. And in further demonstrating its commitment to corruption- free society which aligns with the philosophy of the present administration, Oyeyemi-led Management went into partnership with an NGO known as Akin-Fadeyi Foundation to launch an anti corruption App by which victims of corruption from members of the Corps can immediately activate and send report of the transactions to the FRSC Headquarters for immediate remedial action.

In furtherance of its policy on transparency, the present Management of Corps Marshal Oyeyemi last year established the National Traffic Radio (NTR) to provide ample opportunity for members of the public to not only get information on traffic updates and road conditions across the country, but report any negative encounter with members of the Corps including demand for bribes directly to the studios. The traffic radio which has been  in operation is providing direct access to members of the public through various communication tools for unhindered fight against impunity and corruption among the FRSC personnel and other incidents.

As some keen observers of FRSC and players in the fight against corruption have rightly observed, regardless of whatever negative practices that some few bad eggs in the Corps may indulge themselves in to tarnish the hard earned image of the organisation which have no institutional backing for such operational misconduct, Management under Oyeyemi has no doubt been very committed to addressing such ills in the Corps through its aggressive pursuit of anti corruption programmes and more public support could lead to the realisation of the overall success.

We therefore call on every Nigerian of goodwill as well as international partners to see the campaigns for safer road environment and a nation free of corruption as shared responsibilities for which they should all remain committed through robust use of the platforms the FRSC has provided. As Corps Marshal Oyeyemi has continued to restate in his statements, “FRSC is a public trust and its commitment to protecting public interests through transparency programmes would continue to be vigorously pursued by the Management.”

Assistant Corps Marshal Bisi Kazeem, fsi, is the Corps Public Education Officer.

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Sahara weekly online is published by First Sahara weekly international. contact [email protected]

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Court Warns Police: Your Role in Debt Recovery is Illegal; Awards N50m in Favour of Man Detained for 6 Months Over Failed Forex Deal 

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2 hours ago

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May 23, 2026

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Court Warns Police: Your Role in Debt Recovery is Illegal; Awards N50m in Favour of Man Detained for 6 Months Over Failed Forex Deal 

 

The Lagos State High Court has declared the six-month detention of businessman Bassey Ikpi Ubi over a failed foreign exchange transaction illegal and unconstitutional, ordering the police and private respondents to pay N50 million in damages for torture and unlawful detention.

Justice O. O. Adewunmi-Oshin held that the Nigeria Police Force has no legal authority to act as a debt recovery agency or to mediate private civil disputes.

The ruling was delivered on Monday, 11 May 2026, at the Lagos Judicial Division, High Court No. 49, in Suit No. LD/18019MFHR/2024.

Mr. Ubi, Managing Director of MC COY IKPI BUSINESS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, had sued the Inspector General of Police, the Assistant Inspector General Zone 2, the DSS, the EFCC, and 11 private individuals and corporate entities.

He alleged that he was arrested and detained on Friday,16 February 2024, tortured almost to death in custody, denied bail, and had his Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Tecno phones forcibly taken and hacked.

The applicant told the court that the dispute arose from a failed foreign exchange transaction and that the police were being used by private respondents to recover civil debts.

Justice Adewunmi-Oshin stated unequivocally that “the police are not debt collectors and the detention cell is not a venue for settling private disputes.”

The court observed with concern what it called a recurring trend whereby officers of the Nigeria Police Force arrest and detain citizens under the pretext of criminality while the underlying dispute amounts to nothing more than a breach of contract or a failed commercial transaction.

“This Court observes with concern the recurring trend whereby officers of the Nigeria Police Force arrest and detain Citizens under the pretext of Criminality, while the underlying dispute amounts to nothing more than a breach of contract or a failed commercial transaction,” the judge said.

“Such conduct finds no warrant in law. Sections 4 of the Police Act 2020 above cited does not confer any power to act as debt collectors or to mediate private civil disputes.”

Citing _Fawehimi V Inspector General of Police_ (2002) 7 NWLR pt 767 pg 606, the court reiterated that

“the Police must not allow themselves to be used as tools for the enforcement of Civil obligations.”

The judge also referenced Section 6 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, which makes clear that arrest shall only be made for a reasonable suspicion of a criminal offence, not for the recovery of debts or enforcement of contractual obligations.

On the applicant’s detention, the court found that holding him for six months without bringing him before a court violated Sections 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as Articles 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The judge further declared that the seizure and hacking of the applicant’s phones by the 4th respondent infringed his right to privacy and personal liberty guaranteed under Sections 35 and 37 of the Constitution.

Consequently, the court granted 11 orders. It restrained the 1st to 5th respondents from acting as recovery agents or from further arresting and detaining the applicant and officers of his company.

It ordered the 4th respondent to unconditionally release the seized phones. The court awarded N50,000,000 jointly and severally against all respondents for general, aggravated and exemplary damages, to be paid within 30 days.

It also directed the respondents to publish a public apology to the applicant in a full-page advertorial in a national daily newspaper within 14 days, in line with Section 35(6) of the Constitution.

“The practice is condemned in the strongest terms and the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force is expected to take immediate disciplinary and administrative steps to eradicate it,” Justice Adewunmi-Oshin ruled.

The applicant was represented by Kennedy Osunwa with J. Akor, while M. O. Bajela appeared for the 4th respondent. The 18th and 24th respondents had earlier been struck out of the suit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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2027 PRESIDENTIAL POLL: Nwosu, Akobundu, Ihedioha, Nwajiuba, Ikeobasi- Political Juggernauts Who Will Lead ADC To Landslide Victory In The South East 

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11 hours ago

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May 23, 2026

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2027 PRESIDENTIAL POLL: Nwosu, Akobundu, Ihedioha, Nwajiuba, Ikeobasi- Political Juggernauts Who Will Lead ADC To Landslide Victory In The South East 

 

Barely eight months to the all-important Nigerian presidential election billed for Saturday, January 16, 2027, below are the who is who in the South East, the political heavyweights and juggernauts who will lead the main opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), to a landslide victory across the five South East States of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States.

 

1. Chief Ralph Nwosu: He is the founding National Chairman of the main opposition ADC. Nwosu beat Mr. Peter Obi during the 2002 guber primaries of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), but was asked to step down for Obi, by the revered leader of the Igbo nation, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

 

2. Senator Augustine Akobundu: He is Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate, since 2023. He has just won the ADC primary ticket ahead of the 2027 Senatorial election billed for January 16, 2027.

 

3. H.E. Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha: He was the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (2011-2015), and former Governor of Imo State (2019-2020). Ihedioha was illegitimately ousted from office by the Supreme Court led by CJN Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun. The Supreme Court illegally smuggled APC candidate Hope Uzodimma who came a distant 4th to become Governor through the backdoor.

 

4. Chief Emeka Nwajiuba: He was the former Minister of State for Education (2019-2022). He contested the APC Presidential primaries in 2022. Nwajiuba speaks Hausa fluently and is very close to the Buhari/Katsina Northern political bloc.

 

5. Chief Ikeobasi Mokelu: He was the Minister of Information under the administration of General Sanni Abacha. He is a political juggernaut who is very close to Kashim Imam, Zango Daura, and even His Excellency Atiku Abubakar.

 

Among other eminent political juggernauts and heavyweights, the abovementioned are the men of timber and caliber who will lead the ADC charge across the South East Geo-Political Zone, going into the 2027 Presidential election.

 

Our team of eminent young political scientists and investigative journalists have done our backgrounders on these men, and can state unequivocally and emphatically that they got the verified capacity to lead the ADC to a landslide victory across the five South East States, next year.

 

It’s against this backdrop that we the leaders and members of Afa Igbo Efuna Worldwide call on His Excellency Atiku Abubakar- @atiku, and the Senator David Mark-led @ADCNig leadership to without any iota of doubt shop for a Vice Presidential candidate, among these qualified Igbo leaders from the South East Geo-Political Zone, on or before June 31, 2026.

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Ahead of 2027: BSA Diaspora Vanguard Backs Sarafadeen Alli for Oyo State Governor

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23 hours ago

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May 22, 2026

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Ahead of 2027: BSA Diaspora Vanguard Backs Sarafadeen Alli for Oyo State Governor

 

Support for APC chieftain Barrister Sarafadeen Alli’s 2027 governorship ambition is growing both at home and abroad, with the BSA Diaspora Vanguard in North America throwing its weight behind him.

 

The group, led by Chief Dr. Olayinka Afolabi, Chief Coordinator of the BSA Diaspora Vanguard North America Chapter, said it is committed to mobilizing resources and awareness to ensure Alli emerges as Oyo State’s next governor.

 

“Barrister Sarafadeen Alli is tested, trusted, and understands what the people of Oyo State need,” Chief Afolabi said. “We in the BSA Diaspora Vanguard North America are determined to complement his efforts by enlightening Oyo indigenes in the diaspora and rallying support to bring this vision to reality.”

 

The group added that it would intensify outreach across North America to inform the Oyo community about Alli’s track record and plans for the state.

 

Ahead of 2027: BSA Diaspora Vanguard Backs Sarafadeen Alli for Oyo State Governor

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