A Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria has issued a landmark ruling preventing the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (VIO) from stopping, impounding, or confiscating vehicles, as well as imposing fines on motorists.
The decision, delivered by Justice Evelyn Maha, arose from a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by human rights activist and public interest attorney, Abubakar Marshal.
The judgment also affects other key respondents, 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). Justice Maha upheld the argument that no law empowers these entities to engage in such actions.
The judge declared that the actions of the respondents were “wrongful, oppressive, and unlawful,” emphasizing that the 1st to 4th respondents, under the control of the Minister of the FCT, have no statutory authority to stop, impound, confiscate, or fine motorists.
Furthermore, the court issued an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents and their agents from continuing to violate motorists’ rights to freedom of movement, presumption of innocence, and property ownership without lawful justification.
