The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has hailed the life imprisonment of truck driver Okpara Onyekachi as a landmark victory for justice and road safety in Nigeria.
The FRSC Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, made the statement through the Corps Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide, on Friday, February 6, 2026, in Abuja.
Onyekachi was convicted over the death of Deputy Chief Road Marshal Assistant (DCRMA) Abiodun Ajomale, who was killed during a routine FRSC patrol at Orile-Iganmu, Lagos. Ajomale had welcomed his third child with his wife just two months before the tragic incident.
The judgment was delivered on Tuesday, January 14, 2026, by the High Court of Lagos State, TBS Division, in Suit No. LD/24692C/2024 – The State v. Okpara Onyekachi.
According to the court, Onyekachi, driving a 40-foot container-laden truck at excessive speed, collided with a stationary mini truck that had been flagged down for inspection. The impact fatally injured Ajomale, who was carrying out his official duties at the time.
The court found that the driver acted in a grossly negligent, reckless, and unlawful manner, dismissing claims that the crash was accidental. He was subsequently convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to life imprisonment under the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Corps Marshal Mohammed emphasized that the incident, which occurred on November 16, 2023, during a routine traffic enforcement operation, underscores the consequences of reckless driving.
“Investigations revealed that the defendant failed to exercise due care and rammed into a stationary mini truck, crushing DCRMA Ajomale and inflicting fatal injuries,” he said. “The court rightly convicted him of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced him to life imprisonment under the law.”
Mohammed added that the judgment sends a clear message to all road users, especially operators of heavy-duty vehicles, that recklessness on Nigerian roads will no longer be tolerated. He stressed that when lives are lost due to gross negligence—particularly the lives of officers performing lawful duties—the law will take its full course.
The Corps Marshal also revealed that the FRSC will intensify enforcement, enhance prosecution support, and strengthen collaboration with stakeholders nationwide to curb dangerous driving behaviours.
“Drivers who flout traffic regulations and endanger lives should expect severe legal consequences,” Mohammed said, reaffirming the FRSC’s commitment to safeguarding Nigerian roads.
He concluded by paying tribute to DCRMA Ajomale, noting that his sacrifice serves as a sobering reminder of the risks road safety personnel face daily in the line of duty.
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