As the Edo State Government commences the enforcement of its policy on colour code for all commercial vehicles in the State, three commercial drivers were on Thursday, 1st June, 2023, arraigned by the Edo State Traffic Control and Management Agency (EDSTMA ) Traffic Mobile Court, and sentenced to three months imprisonment with hard labour.
The three commercial drivers, Mr. Goddey Odion, Mr. Henry Odibo, and Mr. Ovuzoni Oseni were tried and convicted by the mobile court for their involvement and roles in an ugly incident that occurred along Sapele Road, Benin City on Thursday morning that resulted in some group of drivers blocking the expressway in violent protest of the Colour code enforcement exercise by the Joint Task Force on duty, which temporarily prevented vehicular movements on the two sides of expressway.
The presiding judge, Magistrate F. Okoro, delivered his judgment and submitted that the three men were convicted “for willful obstruction, disobedience to traffic rules, and assault against government officials carrying out their lawful duties”.
He added that he ought to have sentenced them to one-year imprisonment each but for their pleas for leniency. The judge said that this should serve as a deterrent to other drivers out there who may want to undermine the colour code policy of the Edo State Government or conduct themselves in any manner that compromises public peace or constitute any form of assault on officers on the duty of enforcing the law on colour codes for all commercial vehicles in Edo State.
The enforcement team comprised the Edo State Traffic Control and Management Agency (EDSTMA), Edo State Transport Authority (ESTA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Edo State Public Works Volunteers (PUWOV), the Nigeria Police Force, Edo State Community Security Network, Vehicle Inspection Officers, amongst others. The enforcement exercise by the Joint Task Force continues.
