Magistrates’ Court in Nsukka, Enugu state, on Wednesday, sentenced two commercial motorcyclists to one year imprisonment each, for assaulting some officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
The prosecution counsel, Mr. Richard Iwuoriso, told the court that the incident happened around Bishop Shanahan Hospital, Nsukka, on Nov 29, 2011.
Iwuoriso said the accused persons; Anthony Attama and Christopher Edowa mobilised some commercial motorcyclists and attacked the officials while on duty.
He said they also beat one of the FRSC officials to a state of unconsciousness and damaged the windscreens of their two operational vehicles.
In his ruling, the Magistrate, Mr. Sylvester Eze, said the evidence before the court had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused persons were guilty of the offence.
The court, however, sentenced them to seven years imprisonment each without option of fine but later reduced it to one year jail term or N20, 000 fine when they pleaded for leniency.
“I hope this sentence will serve as deterrent to members of the public who take laws into their hands and assault people without going through the legal process.
“Even if the FRSC or any security agent tramples on your feet, you should not take the law into your hands but go through the legal process to seek redress,” he said.
“Security agents are there for the good of the public and as such should be encouraged rather than attacked,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the counsel to the accused, Mr Raymond Eze, pulled out of the case because of a misunderstanding with the convicts.
Reacting to the ruling, the Unit Commander of the FRSC in Nsukka, Mr. Mohammed Bello, described it as a welcome development.
He said the conviction would serve as a deterrent to members of the public who at times molest and attack officials of the commission in the discharge of their duties. (NAN)
