A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order prohibiting the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, also known as the Vehicle Inspection Office, from stopping vehicles, impounding or confiscating them, and imposing fines on motorists.
The ruling was delivered by Justice Evelyn Maha in response to a fundamental rights enforcement suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023) filed by human rights activist and public interest attorney Abubakar Marshal.
The judgment, delivered on Wednesday, October 2, also affects other parties involved in the case, including the Director of Road Transport, the Area Commander Jabi, the Team Leader Jabi, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, all listed as respondents.
In her ruling, Justice Maha upheld the argument that the respondents are not legally empowered to stop, impound, confiscate, or impose fines on vehicles.
She declared, “The first to the 4th respondents, who are under the control of the 5th respondent (Minister of the FCT), are not empowered by any law or statute to stop, impound, or confiscate the vehicles of motorists or impose fines on motorists.”
The court issued a restraining order preventing the VIO and other respondents from continuing such actions.
Justice Maha labelled these practices as “wrongful, oppressive, and unlawful” and emphasized that the respondents must cease impounding or confiscating vehicles or imposing fines on motorists without proper legal authority.
Additionally, the court issued a perpetual injunction, restraining the respondents from violating Nigerians’ rights to freedom of movement, presumption of innocence, and the right to own property without lawful justification.
The ruling marks a significant victory for motorists and further clarifies the limits of the authority granted to road traffic officials in the Federal Capital Territory.
