By Ibironke Ariyo
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has referred to as for stronger collaboration with the Judiciary to enhance prosecution of visitors offenders, guarantee speedy justice and improve compliance with highway security laws in Nigeria.
The Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, made the decision on Wednesday in Abuja at a capacity-building workshop on the function of Mobile Courts and the Judiciary in FRSC visitors legislation enforcement.
Mohammed mentioned efficient visitors legislation enforcement required skilled enforcement, well timed and neutral adjudication, and respect for the elemental rights of accused individuals.
He famous that whereas the FRSC undertook enforcement and prosecution inside its statutory mandate, the judiciary performed a vital function in guaranteeing the honest adjudication of visitors offences in accordance with the legislation.
According to him, cell courts facilitate the speedy dedication of visitors offences, deter harmful driving and promote compliance with visitors laws.
He, nonetheless, cautioned that the hunt for fast justice should not end in injustice, stressing that each one enforcement actions should be lawful and evidence-based, whereas each accused particular person should be given a good listening to.
The corps marshal mentioned the workshop was designed to strengthen the skilled competence of FRSC personnel and enhance the effectiveness of visitors legislation enforcement by means of enhanced institutional cooperation.
He recognized offence documentation, proof administration, prosecution procedures and efficient engagement with the courts as vital areas requiring improved capability amongst personnel.
Mohammed additionally recognized personnel coaching, logistical assist, witness attendance and the administration of digital proof as challenges that should be addressed to enhance prosecution outcomes and public confidence within the visitors legislation enforcement course of.
He urged contributors to use the information acquired on the workshop to their skilled duties, noting that improved enforcement practices would contribute to higher compliance with visitors laws.
The corps marshal emphasised that enforcement actions should be complemented by sustained public enlightenment to encourage motorists to look at velocity limits, use seat belts, obey visitors indicators and adjust to different highway security laws.
He reaffirmed the corps’ dedication to strengthening its partnership with the judiciary, including that efficient collaboration between each establishments remained essential to reaching safer roads.
In his remarks, the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf counseled the Corps for organising the workshop.
Baba-Yusuf described it as an essential platform for bettering the information {and professional} capability of judicial officers and highway security personnel.
The chief decide mentioned the programme had a number of advantages, together with fostering interplay amongst contributors, selling a greater understanding of the challenges confronting the FRSC and enhancing information of the legal guidelines governing highway visitors regulation.
He defined that judicial officers who understood the operational realities of the corps could be higher positioned to think about visitors instances throughout the acceptable authorized framework.
He additional mentioned that he had particular regard for the FRSC, describing it as one of many legislation enforcement companies he held in excessive esteem due to its dedication to imposing visitors legal guidelines.
Delivering a lecture on the “Trial of Simple Traffic Offences in Road Safety Mobile Courts in Nigeria: Law, Procedure and Practice”, the Chief Registrar, Federal High Court (FHC), Mr Yahaya Shafa, urged magistrates to keep up dignity.
This, he mentioned, included persistence and courtesy, whatever the location or circumstances of cell courtroom proceedings.
He suggested judicial officers to deal with defendants, legal professionals, prosecutors, enforcement officers, witnesses and members of the general public with respect and keep away from insults, intimidation, humiliation, shouting and sarcastic remarks.
He additionally referred to as on magistrates to train persistence when defendants had issue understanding proceedings and be certain that courtroom employees and enforcement officers deal with all individuals showing earlier than the courtroom respectfully.
The spotlight of the occasion was the investiture of the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Baba-Yusuf, as an Honorary Special Marshal of the FRSC.(NAN)
Edited by Sadiya Hamza
