The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, commonly known as VIO, can no longer stop vehicles, confiscate them, or impose fines on motorists.
Justice Evelyn Maha issued this judgment on October 2, 2024, in response to a fundamental rights enforcement suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023) brought by human rights attorney Abubakar Marshal.
The suit challenged the authority of the VIO and other officials, including the Director of Road Transport, the Area Commander of Jabi, the Team Leader of Jabi, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who were all named as respondents.
Justice Maha upheld Marshal’s argument that no law empowers the respondents to stop, confiscate, impound, seize and impose fines on motorists.
The judge declared that 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.
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 is wrongful, oppressive, and unlawful by themselves.
Justice Maha also made an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from further violating the rights of Nigerians to freedom of movement, presumption of innocence and right to own property without lawful justification.