The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has ordered the prosecution of popular TikTok content creator Habeeb Hamzat, professionally known as Peller, following a dangerous incident in which he crashed his vehicle while live-streaming.
Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed has directed the Lagos State Sector Commander to initiate prosecution proceedings against the social media influencer for multiple traffic violations, including reckless driving, phone use while driving, and distracted driving.
The directive came after a video circulated online showing Peller engaging in a live video stream while behind the wheel, which culminated in a car accident. Reports indicate that during the livestream, Peller attempted to take his own life for reasons that have not been disclosed.
Official Statement
In a statement released Monday by FRSC spokesperson Olusegun Ogungbemide, Corps Marshal Mohammed condemned the act as both unlawful and dangerous, emphasising that it could have resulted in loss of life.
“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 stated.
The corps marshal stressed that such actions undermine national efforts to reduce road traffic crashes and fatalities across Nigeria.
Ogungbemide emphasized that the prosecution serves as “a grim reminder that fame does not confer immunity from the law, nor does it excuse dangerous behaviour on public roads.”
Mohammed called upon professional bodies and organizations within the entertainment industry to take responsibility for their members’ conduct. He specifically urged actors’ guilds, entertainment associations, influencer networks, and content creator communities to promote responsible behaviour on Nigerian roads.
The FRSC chief noted that celebrities and influencers wield considerable influence, particularly among young Nigerians, and “must be seen as ambassadors of safety, not symbols of recklessness.”
“Public roads are not studios, stages or streaming platforms,” Mohammed declared. “They are shared spaces governed by laws designed to preserve lives.”
Warning of strict enforcement measures, the corps marshal stated that 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 added emphatically: “No social media content, online trend or momentary clout is worth a human life.”
Public Support
The corps marshal encouraged Nigerians to report dangerous driving behaviours and support collective efforts to make roads safer. The FRSC reaffirmed its commitment to highway safety, stressing that road safety is a shared responsibility requiring discipline, restraint, and respect for the law by all road users without exception.
The prosecution proceedings are expected to commence in accordance with extant traffic laws in Lagos State.
