TheCable

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it will collaborate with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in filing civil actions against drivers whose recklessness results in road traffic injuries.

During a visit to Yakubu Maikyau, president of the NBA, Dauda Biu, corps marshal,  said the partnership would ensure that victims of road crashes are duly compensated through established legal processes.

“There is the need to bring to an end, the current reign of impunity on the road, by ensuring that any driver whose actions or inactions lead to loss of lives or injuries of other road users is made to face the wrath of the law,” Biu said.

The corp marshall urged the NBA president to constitute a team of “brilliant lawyers” who would work to stop “this deadly trend” by bringing civil lawsuits against errant drivers and their companies.

Biu asked the NBA to intervene in correcting the erroneous position of some state judiciary that the FRSC lacks the powers to operate on state roads.

He added that some state high courts had passed judgment to that effect.

Responding, Maikyau affirmed the readiness of the NBA to partner with the corps for the interest of the nation.

He gave the immediate go-ahead for the formation of a committee that will be in charge of fulfilling the duty of bringing justice to those injured in traffic accidents.

The NBA president also gave assurance that he would liaise with the attorney-general of the federation, the chief justice of Nigeria, and heads of courts to ensure that the erroneous position restricting the FRSC is corrected.