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High Court Bars VIO From Imposing Fines On Motorists.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order barring the Directorate of Road Traffic Services otherwise known as Vehicle Inspection Office, VIO from further stopping vehicles on the road, impounding vehicles, or imposing fines on motorists.
The judge, Evelyn Maha, issued the order in a judgement on a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by a human rights activist and lawyer, Abubakar Marshal of Falana and Falana chambers.
Other respondents sued in the case are the Director of Road Transport, the agency’s Area Commander, Jabi, and the Team Leader, Jabi, and the Minister of the FCT.
In the judgement, Justice Maha upheld Mr Marshal’s argument that no law empowers the respondents – the FCT Director of Road Transport and other agents of the FCT authorities – to stop, impound, confiscate, seize, or impose fines on motorists.
The judge declared that the relevant FCT authorities, who are under the control of the 5th respondent (Minister of the FCT), are not empowered by any law or statute to stop, impound, or confiscate the vehicles of motorists and or impose fines on motorists.
She proceeded to issue an order restraining the VIO in the FCT and other relevant agencies of the FCT, either through their agents, servants, and or assigns from impounding, confiscating the vehicle of motorists, and or imposing a fine on any motorist as doing so is wrongful, oppressive, and unlawful by themselves.
Ms Maha further made an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents whether by themselves, agents, privies, allies or anybody acting on behalf of the agencies and their officials from further violating the rights of Nigerians to freedom of movement, presumption of innocence and right to own property without lawful justification.
Wednesday’s judgement is the latest judicial decision curtailing the excesses of VIOs and their powers to impose illegal levies and fines on motorists.
