Breaking: Federal High Court Prohibits VIO From Seizing Vehicles And Levying Fines

Breaking: Federal High Court Prohibits VIO From Seizing Vehicles And Levying Fines....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has issued a landmark ruling that the Directorate of Road Services, commonly known as the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), must immediately halt the confiscation of vehicles and the imposition of fines on Nigerians for traffic violations…….CONTINUE READING 

In a judgment delivered on October 2, 2024, in case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023, Justice Nkeonye Evelyn Maha stated that the VIO lacks the legal authority to seize vehicles or impose severe penalties on motorists.

This ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by rights attorney Abubakar Marshal from Falana and Falana Chambers, challenging the powers of one of the country’s most controversial road traffic enforcement agencies. The decision significantly limits the authority of the VIO, providing relief to millions of motorists who have long been threatened with vehicle confiscation and fines.

It is important to note that this ruling does not apply to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), which has functioned for decades as Nigeria’s principal body for road traffic enforcement.

In her ruling, Justice Maha emphasized that VIO officers “are not empowered by any law or statute to stop, impound, or confiscate the vehicles of motorists or impose fines on motorists.” The court subsequently issued a perpetual injunction against the VIO and its agents, prohibiting them from infringing upon the rights of Nigerians, including their freedom of movement and property rights, without lawful justification.

As of Thursday afternoon, it was unclear whether the VIO would comply with the ruling, as there had been no response from a spokesperson for the directorate regarding the judgment.

For more information on this article and other related posts from Bushradiogist, please join our WhatsApp channel by clicking this link https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaUumOODTkK7AZL1Fw3o. For advertisement inquiries only, kindly send a message to 090 1907 0863 on WhatsApp.