The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Shehu Mohammed, has expressed deep concern over increasing incidents of misconduct, bribery, drug use, and other unethical behavior among staff, warning that such issues could damage public confidence and harm the credibility of the agency.

While addressing officers during the 2025 Half-Year Strategy Session in Abuja on Wednesday, Mohammed issued a strong call to action, urging leaders within the agency to tackle emerging behavioral problems and enforce discipline at all levels.

The theme of this year’s meeting was “Driving Change from Within: Reinforcing Integrity, Accountability, and Performance.”

He noted that recent reports have shown problems in enforcement activities due to unprofessional behavior during patrols, growing cases of misconduct, corruption, weak oversight from commanders, truancy, drug-related issues, and disrespectful treatment of road users.

These challenges, he explained, are hindering internal control and negatively impacting how well the corps performs. He added that they have also raised major concerns among citizens who expect the corps to fulfill its responsibilities effectively.

Mohammed stressed that leaders must be accountable for how their personnel behave and cautioned that failing to act could damage the agency’s integrity.

He directed that commanding officers should identify troubling behaviors, uncover the causes, and apply appropriate disciplinary measures to maintain order and public trust.

Pushing for a shift in culture within the corps, he said there is a need to reinforce leadership responsibilities and ensure proper command structures to restore order and discipline.

He emphasized the need to deal with the tendency for compromise and tackle the moral decline within the corps, which he said is damaging both its integrity and public image.

He encouraged officers to recommit themselves to ethics and responsibility, and emphasized that recognizing good performance and penalizing poor conduct must become a standard practice in the corps.

Mohammed said it was important to take firm steps against truancy, lack of enthusiasm, and abandoning duties, while rewarding productivity and accountability as a way to boost staff motivation.

Due to reduced financial support, he urged operational leaders to think creatively about how to keep their work effective despite limited resources.

He also called on commanders to build strategic partnerships, particularly with state governments, to support vital FRSC operations.

Despite internal struggles, he said the agency has earned international recognition. Nigeria recently received the Kofi Annan Road Safety Award for Best in Road Safety Management in Africa and was selected to host the permanent office of the African Association of Road Safety Lead Agencies.

Mohammed attributed this progress to the hard work of FRSC personnel and the support of the federal government, adding that the achievements have positioned FRSC as a leading road safety agency on the continent.

To boost the agency’s legal authority, he said the FRSC Amendment Bill, which recently passed in the House of Representatives, is now waiting for Senate approval. The proposed law includes changing the agency’s name and expanding its responsibilities.

He explained that the current FRSC law from 2007 will be updated to become the Nigeria Road Safety Commission Act 2024.

He added that under the new law, the Federal Road Safety Corps will become the Nigeria Road Safety Commission, its authority will cover all public roads, senior officers’ salaries will be consolidated, and a special armed unit will be created within the commission.

He mentioned that the corps recently completed a round of promotions, raising three Assistant Corps Marshals to Deputy Corps Marshals, 18 Corps Commanders to ACMs, and promoting more than 1,200 other officers.

He said management is working hard to motivate staff and create conditions that encourage better performance.

He expressed hope that both officers and rank-and-file members would commit themselves to providing quality service.

To strengthen partnerships between agencies, he said the FRSC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau to broaden safety efforts across all transportation sectors.

Mohammed noted that the agreement with NSIB aims to improve safety beyond aviation, extending to roads and railways, with both agencies working together to make transportation safer for the public.

NSIB’s Director General, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., described the collaboration as important in helping to ensure safety in transportation.

He said their role was to provide recommendations that would enable the FRSC to carry out its responsibilities more effectively and protect lives.

He also commended the FRSC for recent improvements in its enforcement and response strategies.

Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who officially opened the session, praised the FRSC for its continued efforts despite budget and resource challenges.

Referring to accident figures between January and May 2025, which showed 2,406 deaths and more than 33,000 injuries, Akume (represented by Sanusi Danjuma) called for stronger enforcement, education, and inter-agency collaboration.

He said reviewing past performance helps highlight strengths and weaknesses, and assured the corps that government will keep supporting its programmes to achieve the goal of zero road traffic deaths.

He concluded by applauding the corps’ use of digital solutions such as the FRSC mobile app and the National Crash Information System, which he said have helped improve real-time tracking and policy development.

Former Group Managing Director of FirstBank Nigeria, Dr Olabisi Onasanya, has said he is now vindicated after the Federal High Court in Lagos struck out the controversial loan-related case involving his name.

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, Lagos on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 struck out the case after the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, withdrew the suit following an out-of-court settlement among the parties involved including the nominal complainant (First bank of Nigeria PLC), the erstwhile Chairman of the Bank, Oba Otudeko, who is the first defendant, and his Anchorage Leisure Limited standing as the fourth defendant as well as the intervention of the office of the Attorney General of the federation.

Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), the counsel to the prosecution, the EFCC, said the withdrawal of the suit was consequent on the confirmation of the repayment of the controversial loan by the defence and the intervention by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation.

Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, appearing for the prosecution, further informed the Court that the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) received a formal request to discontinue the matter. He noted that on 16th July 2025, First Bank of Nigeria (FBN), the nominal complainant, wrote to the AGF confirming that a settlement had been reached with the 1st Defendant (Oba Otudeko) and that the Counsel to the 1st Defendant similarly wrote to the AGF, confirming the settlement.

‘’Subsequently, by a letter dated 21st July 2025, FBN formally communicated its decision to no longer pursue the allegations against the Defendants. Following a thorough review of the representations by both the nominal complainant and the First defendant, and since the funds in question had been fully recovered and returned to the Bank’s treasury, the Honourable AGF considered it appropriate on grounds of justice, public policy, and to prevent abuse of legal process to withdraw the charge subject to Section 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, we hereby move a motion to withdraw the case,” Oyedepo told the court.

Bode Olanipekun (SAN), the counsel to the first defendant, did not object to the withdrawal, confirming the settlement between the nominal complainant (First Bank) and his client, the first defendant (Oba Otudeko).

Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), the counsel for Onasanya, told the court, “My lord, I have no objection to the withdrawal. I attended the first meeting of the parties with the AGF (Attorney General of the Federation) and I affirmed that the matter was strictly between the nominal complainant, which is the First Bank and the first defendant (Otudeko). I am happy that the matter has now been resolved among them, and I thank all the parties for resolving it.”

With no objection to the withdrawal of the suit by any of the parties, Justice Aneke declared the suit ‘struck out’.

Speaking to journalists after the case was dismissed, Michael Osunnuyi, Media Advisor to the retired banker, strongly affirmed Onasanya’s innocence and said he had always been determined to clear his name.

“He’s completely vindicated. From the beginning, we have maintained that he did nothing wrong. He was not actively involved in the approval process for the transaction, as investigated by the EFCC about eight years ago. Dr Onasanya has never taken part in any form of fraud in his over three decades of service in the Nigerian financial sector,” Osunnuyi said.

Osunnuyi said his principal demonstrated his innocence by voluntarily presenting himself to the court at each sitting to prove that he had nothing to hide.

Onasanya, who retired voluntarily as FirstBank Group managing Director in 2015 after years of meritorious service, said the case had been particularly painful because of the attempted damage to his legacy.

“Dr Onasanya’s reputation is everything to him. He built a name in banking and corporate governance through dedication, discipline, professionalism and integrity. That’s why he didn’t run. That’s why he always came to court to defend his name and to uphold the values he has always believed in. Let it be known that Dr Onasanya will continue to defend himself where necessary and will not succumb to the antics of mischief makers who target him in the advancement of their aggrandisement,” Osunnuyi said.

Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday issued a caution and released a female drug offender, Isoken Arigbe, on compassionate grounds after she was convicted for being in possession of 66 grams of methamphetamine without authorization.

Arigbe was released after admitting guilt to a single charge brought against her by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

She had been apprehended on May 23, 2025, at the Lekki Gardens Phase 2 Junction located in Ajah, within the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.

During the hearing, NDLEA prosecutor Mr. A.G. Yuanyuam informed the court that the case was set for Arigbe’s arraignment, and the charge would be read to her.

Yuanyuam stated that Arigbe was found with 66 grams of Methamphetamine, a substance comparable to cocaine, heroin, and LSD, without any legal authority.

He added that her actions violated Section 19 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, as amended.

Upon hearing the charge, Arigbe pleaded guilty, leading the prosecutor to present the facts of the case along with related documents and evidence.

The prosecutor then asked the court to convict her under Section 356(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

Justice Osiagor proceeded to convict Arigbe based on the charge.

Following her conviction, the prosecution requested the permanent forfeiture of N534,569.16 found in Arigbe’s bank accounts, claiming the funds were proceeds of the crime.

The judge approved the request and ruled that the money be forfeited to the Federal Government.

During allocutus, defence lawyer Mr. C.J. Robert, representing the chambers of Uche Okoronkwo, appealed for mercy.

He explained to the court that Arigbe was a first-time offender who had shown remorse and cooperated by promptly pleading guilty.

Robert also highlighted Arigbe’s worsening medical condition, referencing reports from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital indicating severe health issues including abdominal disorders and an enlarged heart.

Taking into account her poor health, Justice Osiagor decided not to impose a prison sentence.

Instead, he cautioned and discharged her, advising her not to reoffend and to prioritize her recovery.

The judge nevertheless upheld the order to forfeit N534,569.16 to the Federal Government.