The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, has directed the Lagos State Sector Commander to commence prosecution processes against popular TikTok streamer Habeeb Hamzat, known as Peller, for reckless driving, use of phone while driving, and distracted driving.
The directive followed the circulation of a video online showing Peller engaging in a live video stream while driving, which resulted in a car crash.
In a statement signed by the FRSC spokesperson, Olusegun Ogungbemide, on Monday, Mohammed described the act as unlawful and dangerous, noting that it could have led to loss of lives.
Peller had attempted to take his life during the live stream for yet to be disclosed reasons.
Ogungbemide said the prosecution will serve as “a grim reminder that fame does not confer immunity from the law, nor does it excuse dangerous behaviour on public roads.”
According to the corps marshal, “live streaming, content creation, recording or engaging in any activity that distracts a driver while driving is a direct violation of established road traffic regulations and poses grave danger not only to the driver but to other innocent road users.”
Mohammed added that such actions undermine national efforts aimed at reducing road traffic crashes and fatalities.
Consequently, he directed the Lagos State Sector Commander of the FRSC to commence prosecution processes against the individual involved for “reckless driving, use of phone while driving, and distracted driving, in accordance with extant traffic laws.”
The corps marshal also called on professional bodies and groups within the entertainment industry to take responsibility for the conduct of their members.
He urged actors’ guilds, entertainment associations, influencer networks and content creator communities to rein in their members and promote responsible behaviour on Nigerian roads.
Mohammed noted that celebrities and influencers wield significant influence, particularly among young Nigerians, stressing that they “must be seen as ambassadors of safety, not symbols of recklessness.”
Warning of strict enforcement, he said the FRSC “will not hesitate to apply the full weight of the law against any individual, celebrity or otherwise, found engaging in distracted or reckless driving,” adding that “no social media content, online trend or momentary clout is worth a human life.”
He further reminded motorists that “public roads are not studios, stages or streaming platforms,” describing them as shared spaces governed by laws designed to preserve lives.
The corps marshal encouraged Nigerians to report dangerous driving behaviours and support collective efforts to make roads safer.
The FRSC reaffirmed its commitment to safer highways, stressing that road safety remains a shared responsibility that requires discipline, restraint and respect for the law by all road users, without exception.
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