FRSC Admits Viral Bribery Report, Recalls Patrol Team, Vows Probe, Disciplinary Action

The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, has ordered the immediate recall of some implicated officers and launched a thorough internal investigation in response to a viral investigative report by Premium Times alleging bribery involving some of its patrol operatives.

The Corps Marshal described the move as a firm step towards maintaining the integrity and operational discipline of the agency.

He assured the public that any personnel found guilty of misconduct will face strict disciplinary action, including dismissal and prosecution where necessary.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the Corps Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide, the FRSC made clarifications on parts of the report, particularly its reference to a 2021 arrest of FRSC officials by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

 

Ogungbemide revealed that the Corps’ internal Surveillance and Monitoring Team, in its inaugural year, arrested over 70 staff members in just two targeted operations.

These arrests, he said, were complemented by additional actions taken through the Corps’ internal disciplinary mechanisms.

“Prima facie cases have been established against some of the affected personnel to serve as a deterrent,” he noted.

The statement read, “Over the years, the leadership of the Corps consistently demonstrated zero tolerance to corruption through a detailed anti-corruption policy and implementation process, dynamic and result-oriented operational activities and continuous monitoring and evaluation of established.

“To this end, any operative arrested for any criminal offence, including extortion, shall not only be tried internally, disengaged, but handed over to the Police for prosecution where necessary.”

 

Ogungbemide explained that demonstration of zero tolerance to bribery and corruption led to the continual reorganisation of the internal surveillance system to enable it to cope with the guidelines of the Corps’ maintenance of discipline.

He said it is highly instrumental to the termination of the appointments of many Corps operatives found guilty of bribery and corruption, while others face prosecution in the courts of law.

He said, “Even with the successes recorded via her internal regulatory mechanism, the Corps has continued to be resolute in its stand against sharp practices, as such, the quest to boost the successes recorded through previous efforts and the need to achieve total sanity after realising that the situation deserved a more radical, pragmatic and multi-prong approach.

 

“The Federal Road Safety Corps went into synergy with the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) for collaboration to stage a Joint Surveillance Special Operation in the year 2021.”

 

He noted that the joint operation was aimed at apprehending the corrupt elements within the Corps who, through their actions, greed, and abuse of power, have tarnished the hard-earned reputation of the Corps in the eyes of the public.

 

According to Ogungbemide, FRSC under the leadership of the present Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed launched a mobile application to intensify its fight against corruption and bribery, as well as reward high flyers in the system.

 

“Part of the functionality of the App includes amongst others, options for reporting erring personnel who compromise established standards in the course of their duties. This to a large extent has reduced misconducts as the combination of the Flag-It App and the Mobile App have put a strong check on the personnel,” he said.