The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kano Sector Command, says it has commenced the process of appealing the recent Federal High Court judgment that restricted its enforcement activities on Kano State and local government roads, insisting that the ruling does not affect its statutory powers on federal highways.
The position was contained in a statement signed on Saturday by the Sector Public Education Officer, CRC Abdullahi Aliyu Labaran, on behalf of the Sector Commander.
Labaran said the clarification became necessary following publications and social media commentaries by Kano-based lawyer Abba Hikima regarding the judgment, which the command said had led to misconceptions about the scope of the court’s decision.
The FRSC’s reaction follows Thursday’s judgment of the Federal High Court in Kano, which held that the Corps has no legal authority to carry out enforcement operations on roads under the control of the Kano State Government or its local government councils.
Justice M. S. Shuaibu ruled in favour of Kano-based lawyer Abba Hikima, who challenged the legality of the Corps’ operations on township roads after FRSC personnel stopped, questioned and delayed him in July 2025.
The court restrained the Corps from stopping or interfering with motorists on state and local government roads without lawful authority, ordered it to publish a public apology in a national newspaper and awarded Hikima N800,000 in damages and litigation costs.
Responding to the judgment, the command said the FRSC remained a law-abiding institution that holds the judiciary in high regard and is committed to upholding the rule of law.
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It, however, maintained that the judgment did not abolish the statutory powers of the Corps or prohibit it from carrying out its lawful responsibilities on federal highways in Kano State.
“The FRSC derives its powers from the FRSC (Establishment) Act, 2007, and remains legally mandated to enforce traffic laws, prevent road traffic crashes, rescue crash victims, and ensure the safety of road users on Federal Roads across the Federation,” the statement said.
According to the command, its operational jurisdiction in Kano includes major federal roads such as the Kano–Zaria Road, Kano–Katsina Road, Kano–Maiduguri Road, Kano–Hadejia Road, Kano Western Bypass, Kano–Gumel Road, Sharada–Madobi Road, Eastern Bypass, IBB–Katsina Road, BUK Road, Airport Road, Murtala Mohammed Way–Hadejia Road, Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Aminu Kano Way, Gwarzo Road and other designated federal highways across the state.
The command also expressed concern over social media posts encouraging motorists and other members of the public to confront or disregard FRSC personnel while carrying out their duties.
It warned that such comments were misleading, capable of inciting resistance to lawful authority and could endanger public peace as well as the safety of both road users and law enforcement personnel.
The statement further disclosed that the Corps had identified what it described as serious procedural issues surrounding the proceedings that led to the judgment.
“Our processes intended to place our defence before the Court were not considered,” the command said, adding that it had already commenced steps to challenge the judgment.
Pending the determination of the appeal, the FRSC said it would continue to discharge its statutory responsibilities with professionalism, civility and respect for the rights of all road users, particularly on federal highways within Kano State.
The command advised members of the public to remain law-abiding, cooperate with duly identified FRSC personnel performing lawful duties, and refrain from actions that could obstruct law enforcement officers or disrupt public order, citing what it described as misleading interpretations circulating on social media.
It reiterated its commitment to ensuring safer roads, saving lives and promoting responsible road use in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
