Appeal Court Declares VIO Stopping Vehicles Illegal
The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Thursday, affirmed a lower court judgment barring the Directorate of Road Traffic Services and Vehicle Inspection Officers from stopping motorists, confiscating vehicles, or imposing fines on road users.
A three-member panel, in a unanimous decision, held that there was no basis to overturn the Federal High Court’s ruling of October 16, 2024, which prohibited VIO officials from harassing motorists.a
READ ALSO
•I Have Never Been Linked To Violence – Ganduje React Over Kano Govt’s Call For His Arrest
•Court Fixes Date For Kanu’s Transfer Appeal, Rejects Brother’s Representation
The appeal filed by the VIO was dismissed for lacking merit in the lead judgment delivered by Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi.
Justice Nkeonye Maha of the Federal High Court had earlier ruled that no law empowered VIO officials to stop, impound, confiscate, seize, or impose fines on motorists.
The ruling followed a fundamental rights suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023, filed by public interest lawyer, Abubakar Marshal.
Marshal told the court that VIO operatives forcefully stopped him at Jabi District on December 12, 2023, and confiscated his vehicle without lawful justification.
He asked the court to declare their actions wrongful, oppressive, unlawful, and a gross violation of his fundamental rights.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
