•Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed directs Lagos command to take legal action, sends strong warning to all influencers.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has vowed to prosecute popular TikTok personality Habeeb Hamzat, widely known as Peller, for endangering lives by live-streaming while driving, an act that culminated in a dramatic car crash and an apparent suicide attempt during the broadcast.
In a decisive move, the Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, has issued a direct order to the Lagos State Sector Command to initiate legal proceedings against the social media influencer. The charges will include reckless driving, use of a phone while driving, and distracted driving, violations that carry significant penalties under Nigerian traffic laws.
The order follows the viral spread of a video showing Peller engaged in a live video session from behind the wheel, which dangerously diverted his attention from the road and led to an accident. The chaotic stream also captured the moment Peller attempted to take his own life for reasons that remain undisclosed.
In an official statement signed by the Corps’ Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide, on Monday, Corps Marshal Mohammed condemned the act as and dangerous,” emphasizing that it “could have led to loss of lives.”
“This 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,” the statement read.
The FRSC boss was unequivocal in his condemnation, stating that any activity that distracts a driver—be it live streaming, recording, or content creation—is a direct violation of traffic regulations.
“Such actions undermine national efforts aimed at reducing road traffic crashes and fatalities,” Mohammed added.
Going beyond a single case, the Corps Marshal issued a stern admonition to the entire entertainment and content creation industry. He called on professional guilds, actors’ associations, and influencer networks to take responsibility for their members’ conduct and actively promote responsible behavior.
“Celebrities and influencers wield significant influence, particularly among young Nigerians,” the statement noted. “They must be seen as ambassadors of safety, not symbols of recklessness.”
Mohammed warned that the FRSC “will not hesitate to apply the full weight of the law against any individual, celebrity or otherwise,” stressing that “no social media content, online trend, or momentary clout is worth a human life.”
Reiterating the core mandate of the agency, the FRSC reminded all motorists that public roads are “shared spaces governed by laws designed to preserve lives,” and are not extensions of a film studio or a streaming platform.
The Corps encouraged citizens to report instances of dangerous driving, reinforcing that road safety is a “shared responsibility that requires discipline, restraint, and respect for the law by all road users, without exception.”
