Court Confirms FRSC’s Sanction Over Tampered Number Plate

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has expressed approval of a recent Federal High Court judgment affirming its power to sanction motorists who violate traffic regulations, especially concerning number plate standards.

The Corps Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide, made the announcement on Thursday in Abuja. The judgment, handed down on June 23, 2025, by Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos, arose from suit number FHC/L/CS/2367/2024, involving Ojo Victor Olomi and the FRSC.

According to Ogungbemide, the court dismissed Olomi’s challenge against the legality of a fine and the confiscation of his driver’s license by FRSC officials. The case originated from Olomi’s unlawful hand-painting of his vehicle’s number plate, making it non-reflective and violating the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2016.

The regulation requires all number plates to be reflective for visibility, security, and enforcement purposes.

Justice Kakaki ruled that Olomi’s actions constituted a legal violation and stated that the confiscation of his driver’s license did not infringe on his fundamental rights as he had claimed. The court also distinguished this case from a previous judgment in Chinwike Ezebube v. FRSC, clarifying that hand-painted number plates remain punishable offenses.

Ogungbemide described the ruling as a landmark judicial endorsement of the FRSC’s authority to enforce road safety laws and fulfill its statutory responsibilities.

“This verdict is a significant affirmation by the judiciary of the FRSC’s powers in enforcing traffic regulations, particularly those related to vehicle identification and road safety compliance,” he said.

Reacting to the ruling, FRSC Corps Marshal Malam Shehu Mohammed urged motorists to avoid actions that compromise road safety, such as tampering with or altering number plates. He also called on the public to disregard misleading interpretations of earlier court decisions and to acknowledge the clarity provided by this judgment.

“The FRSC remains committed to its mission of ensuring safer roads and will continue to perform its duties with professionalism, integrity, and respect for the rights of all Nigerians,” Mohammed affirmed.