The Federal High Court in Abuja has prevented the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, popularly known as VIO from stopping vehicles on the road, seizing vehicles, and imposing fines on motorists.
Justice Evelyn Maha had issued the order on Wednesday, October 2, in a judgment on a fundamental rights enforcement suit: FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023 filed by a human rights and public interest attorney, Abubakar Marshal.
The order had affected the Director of Road Transport; the Area Commander, Jabi, and the Team Leader, Jabi. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, had also listed as respondents.
Justice Maha had upheld Marshal’s argument that no law gave the respondents the right to stop, confiscate, impound, seize and impose fines on motorists.
The judge also announced that the 1st to the 4th respondents, who are under the control of the 5th respondent (Minister of the FCT) were not empowered by any law.
She further issued an order restraining the 1st to 4th respondents (either through their servants or agents) from confiscating, impounding vehicles or imposing a fine on any motorist as doing so was wrongful, oppressive, and unlawful by themselves.
Finally, Justice Maha also made an order of perpetual injunction stopping the respondents from further violating the rights of Nigerians to their freedom of movement, presumption of innocence and right to own property without lawful justification.
