In a significant ruling, a Federal High Court in Abuja has prohibited the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, known as Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO), from conducting activities on the road.
The court mandated that VIO personnel must stop stopping, impounding, or confiscating vehicles, as well as imposing fines on motorists. Justice Evelyn Maha issued this directive during a ruling on a fundamental rights enforcement suit: FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023, brought forth by human rights activist and public interest attorney Abubakar Marshal.
The ruling also impacts the Director of Road Transport, the Area Commander of Jabi, the Team Leader of Jabi, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, all listed as respondents.
In her judgment delivered on October 2, Justice Maha upheld Marshal’s argument that no law empowers the respondents to stop, impound, confiscate, or fine motorists.
The judge affirmed that the first through fourth respondents, who operate under the authority of the fifth respondent (the Minister of the FCT), lack any legal or statutory power to engage in such actions against motorists.
The court has restrained the first through fourth respondents, as well as their agents or representatives, from impounding vehicles or imposing fines, deeming such actions as wrongful, oppressive, and unlawful. Justice Maha also issued a perpetual injunction to prevent the respondents and anyone acting on their behalf from infringing upon the rights of Nigerians, including their freedom of movement, presumption of innocence, and property ownership without lawful justification.
