BY Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti

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For allegedly violating various driving offences, no fewer than twenty-three drivers have been convicted by a Mobile Court constituted by the Ekiti State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), for various traffic offences.

The motorists who were arrested in various parts of the state by the officials of the FRSC were given fines depending on the gravity of the offences.

The Prosecutor, Mr Kehinde Ajidara, an Assistant Corp Commander (ACC) cited Section 10 of the FRSC Establishment Act 2007, that empowers the FRSC to establish a Mobile Court for the prosecution of traffic offenders.

The offenders were arraigned before the Mobil Court headed by Chief Magistrate Oladele Ogunlade, on various offences which include, overloading,  non-usage of seatbelt, use of phone while driving, number plate violation among other punishable offences.

They were made to pay fines or sentenced, while others were ordered to do community service.

Speaking on the exercise, the Ekiti State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr Elijah Olusola, said the Corps embarked on the exercise apparently to reduce the menace of non-compliance to the traffic rules and regulations among the drivers operating in the state.

He noted that the exercise is also part of measures to mitigate the incessant road accidents, especially during the ’ember’ months, which coincide with the yuletide season.

According to him; “We are conducting a Mobile Court sitting, because for quite a long time now, we have not done that. So, we deem it fit that it is not about writing tickets alone. We want people to have the feel of the court, so that whatever they were being arrested and prosecuted for,  they would be able to plead their cases. And if the Magistrate deems it fit to release them, those who can not prove their cases beyond reasonable doubt will be made to pay some fines.

“Let the users of the road comport themselves very well, most especially during this ember months. People always have this belief that during the ember months., there are some evil forces operating in the months. But we have been trying to disabuse people’s’ minds that there is nothing like that.

“If people are cautious while on the road and patient, we will be able to avert most of these things that happen during the ember months. So, we want people to maintain traffic rules and maintain sanity while on the road.

“This activity is going to be sustained. It is going to be a continuous activity from now. By next week, we will be moving to our units. We will rotate it and come back here again. Of course, this activity will go round Ekiti State.”