The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has directed the prosecution of popular TikTok personality Habeeb Hamzat (aka Peller) for a crash caused by distracted driving.
FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed condemned the incident, linking it to a dangerous trend of recklessness among celebrities and influencers that undermines road safety.
The order came after a viral video showed Peller live-streaming while driving, which led to the accident. In a formal statement, Mohammed labeled the act as both illegal and perilous, emphasizing its potential for fatal consequences.
He noted that the incident “serves as a grim reminder that fame does not confer immunity from the law, nor does it excuse dangerous behaviour on public roads.”
Mohammed explained that “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.”
He stressed that such conduct directly subverts the country’s campaign to curb road crashes and deaths.
Consequently, the Corps Marshal has ordered the Lagos FRSC command to proceed with prosecution.
According to him, the charges would include “reckless driving, use of phone while driving, and distracted driving, in accordance with extant traffic laws.”
Mohammed also called on professional bodies 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.
Noting the influence celebrities wield, especially among young Nigerians, he warned that they “must be seen as ambassadors of safety, not symbols of recklessness.”
Issuing a warning on enforcement, Mohammed 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.”
He stressed 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.
Mohammed encouraged Nigerians to report dangerous driving behaviours and support collective efforts to make roads safer.
The FRSC reaffirmed its commitment to safer highways, stating that road safety remains a shared responsibility requiring discipline, restraint and respect for the law by all road users, without exception.
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