FRSC Hails Life Sentence for Truck Driver Who Killed Marshal on Duty

FRSC Hails Life Sentence for Truck Driver Who Killed Marshal on Duty

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has hailed the life imprisonment sentence handed down to a truck driver who killed one of its officers while on active duty, describing the judgment as a major victory for justice and road safety enforcement in Nigeria.

The conviction followed a ruling by the High Court of Lagos State, TBS Division, which on Tuesday, January 14, 2026, sentenced Okpara Kingsley Onyekachi to life imprisonment for Involuntary Manslaughter in Suit No. LD/24692C/2024, The State v. Okpara Kingsley Onyekachi.

The case arose from a fatal road crash that occurred on November 16, 2023, at Orile-Iganmu, Lagos State, during a routine traffic enforcement operation by officers of the FRSC.

According to investigations, the convict was driving a 40-foot container-laden truck at excessive speed when he failed to exercise due care and rammed into a stationary mini truck that had been flagged down by FRSC personnel for inspection.

The impact crushed Deputy Chief Road Marshal Assistant (DCRMA) Ajomale, who was lawfully discharging his official duties at the time, leading to fatal injuries.

The court held that the driver’s action was grossly negligent, reckless and unlawful, and rejected any claim that the incident was an accident before handing down the life sentence under the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Reacting to the judgment, the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, said the verdict sent a strong warning to all motorists, especially operators of heavy-duty vehicles.

“The judgment sends a loud, unmistakable message to all drivers, particularly operators of heavy duty vehicles, that recklessness on our roads will no longer be tolerated,” he said.

Mohammed stressed that the Corps would continue to pursue justice in cases where lives are lost due to dangerous driving, especially when officers are killed in the line of duty.

“When a life is lost due to gross negligence, especially the life of an officer on lawful duty, the law will take its full course, and the Corps will continue to pursue justice relentlessly for every fallen officer and every innocent road user,” he added.

The Corps Marshal further disclosed that the FRSC would intensify enforcement, strengthen prosecution support and deepen collaboration with stakeholders to curb reckless driving nationwide.

He warned motorists who disregard traffic regulations and endanger the lives of others to expect severe legal consequences, reiterating the Corps’ commitment to safeguarding lives on Nigerian roads.

The FRSC also paid tribute to the late DCRMA Ajomale, noting that his death remains a painful reminder of the risks faced daily by road safety personnel in the line of duty.