The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has taken swift action after serious bribery accusations were made against one of its patrol teams. The team has been withdrawn from duty as the Corps begins a full investigation into the claims.
This move came after a report from an online news outlet alleged that members of the patrol team were involved in bribery during their operations. In response, the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, ordered the immediate recall of the officers named in the report.
In a public statement, Assistant Corps Marshal and Corps Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide, confirmed that the Corps is now looking into the matter.
He noted that FRSC remains firm in its commitment to discipline and transparency. He also mentioned that the patrol officers involved may face serious punishment, including being fired and charged in court, if found guilty.
Part of the official statement read, “The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps Shehu Mohammed has taken decisive action in response to a viral publication by Premium Media outlet alleging bribery by some of the patrol operatives of the Corps; by ordering the immediate recall of the entire patrol team mentioned in the report for thorough investigation and necessary sanction.”
FRSC stated that it has systems in place to deal with corruption and misconduct among its ranks. It noted that this is not the first time it has acted strongly in such cases.
The Corps also addressed a past issue from 2021, where some of its staff were arrested by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). It clarified that corruption is a national issue, but stressed that FRSC has been actively working to clean up its operations.
According to the Corps, it has carried out joint surveillance missions with both the ICPC and the Department of State Services (DSS). These efforts led to the arrest of more than 70 FRSC staff in just one year. Some of those arrested have already faced internal actions, while others are being prosecuted.
To improve transparency and allow public participation, FRSC has teamed up with the Akin Fadeyi Foundation and the MacArthur Foundation. This partnership led to the launch of the “Flag-It” app, which helps Nigerians report officers who ask for bribes or behave badly.
There is also a new in-house mobile app that lets FRSC officers report in real time and also recognize those who do their jobs properly.
The Corps Marshal urged both the public and the media to continue using these platforms to report any wrongdoing they witness. He noted that public feedback is important in building a better and more trusted road safety agency.
