A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and presided over by Justice Evelyn Maha has barred the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, popularly known as VIO from stopping vehicles on the road, confiscating vehicles, and imposing fines on motorists.
Issuing the order this Wednesday October 2, 2024, in a judgment on a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by a human rights and public interest attorney, Abubakar Marshal, the Judge upheld that no law empowers the respondents to stop, confiscate, impound, seize and impose fines on motorists.
Justice Maha declared that the first to the 4th respondents, who are under the control of the 5th respondent (Minister of the FCT) are not empowered by any law.
She further issued an order restraining the 1st to 4th respondents either through their servants or agents from confiscating, impounding vehicles or imposing a fine on any motorist as doing so is wrongful, oppressive, and unlawful by themselves.
Justice Maha also made an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from further violating the rights of Nigerians to freedom of movement, presumption of innocence and right to own property without lawful justification.
