The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has disclosed that popular TikToker Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, will be prosecuted for unsafe driving following the road crash that occurred during his livestream on Sunday.
FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, also raised alarm over the increasing trend of unsafe driving practices among celebrities, social media influencers, and content creators, warning that such behaviour endangers lives and threatens ongoing road safety campaigns.
LEADERSHIP reports that Peller had in a viral video, involved in a road crash when he was reportedly streaming live.
Reacting to the incident, Mohammed, in a statement issued on Monday and signed by the FRSC spokesperson, Olusegun Ogungbemide, condemned the act as illegal and hazardous, noting that it could easily have resulted in fatalities.
According to him, 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.”
The corps marshal stressed 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 added that such conduct undermines national initiatives targeted at reducing road crashes and traffic-related deaths.
Consequently, Mohammed directed the Lagos State Sector Commander of the FRSC to commence prosecution of the individual involved.
He explained that the prosecution would border on “reckless driving, use of phone while driving, and distracted driving, in accordance with extant traffic laws.”
Beyond enforcement, the FRSC boss called on professional bodies within the entertainment and digital content space to take greater responsibility for the actions of their members.
He urged actors’ guilds, entertainment associations, influencer networks, and content creator communities to actively promote safe and responsible road use.
Mohammed noted that celebrities and influencers have a strong following, particularly among young Nigerians, and warned that they “must be seen as ambassadors of safety, not symbols of recklessness.”
Issuing a stern warning, 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.”
He further emphasised that “no social media content, online trend or momentary clout is worth a human life.”
Reminding motorists of the purpose of public highways, the corps commander stated that “public roads are not studios, stages or streaming platforms,” describing them as shared spaces regulated by laws meant to protect lives.
He further encouraged members of the public to report dangerous driving and support collective efforts to improve road safety nationwide.
The FRSC reaffirmed its commitment to safer highways, emphasising that road safety is a shared responsibility that requires discipline, restraint, and respect for traffic laws from all road users, without exception.
