Major Blow To FRSC As Court Restricts Officers From Intercepting Drivers On State Roads

The Federal High Court in Kano has ruled that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has no legal authority to conduct routine enforcement operations on state and local government roads, declaring such activities within the Kano metropolis unconstitutional and unlawful.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice M. S. Shuaibu held that the commission exceeded its statutory powers by establishing checkpoints on township roads and stopping motorists for routine inspections.

The suit was filed by Kano-based lawyer Abba Hikima, who challenged the actions of FRSC personnel following an incident in July 2025.

According to the court, the commission’s conduct violated the constitutional rights of motorists, particularly their rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement as guaranteed under Sections 35 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution.

Justice Shuaibu consequently granted the major reliefs sought by the applicant, including a perpetual injunction restraining FRSC officers from stopping, harassing or delaying motorists on roads under the control of the Kano State Government without lawful authority.

In addition to the injunction, the court ordered the FRSC to issue a public apology to Hikima in a national newspaper.

The court also awarded the applicant ₦800,000 as damages and litigation costs.

The case arose after FRSC operatives reportedly mounted checkpoints across township roads in Kano in July 2025, where they stopped motorists, including Hikima, to demand driver’s licences and conduct routine checks despite the absence of any alleged traffic offence.

Arguing his case before the court, Hikima maintained that the FRSC Act limits the commission’s enforcement powers to federal highways and does not authorise routine operations on roads under the jurisdiction of state and local governments.

By upholding all the reliefs sought, the court ruled that the commission acted beyond the powers granted to it by law and reaffirmed the constitutional protections safeguarding citizens’ rights to freedom of movement and personal liberty.

The judgment is expected to trigger fresh legal and public debate over the scope of the FRSC’s enforcement authority and its operations on roads outside its statutory jurisdiction.