Court Stops VIO, Others From Impounding, Imposing Fines On Motorists
By Vivian Michael, Abuja
The Federal High Court, Abuja, Thursday, issued an order restraining the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, popularly known as VIO from impounding, confiscating or imposing fine on any motorist.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023, a human right activist and public interest attorney, Abubakar Marshal, mentioned the Directorate of Road Traffic Services & 4 Others as defendants.
The trial judge, Justice Evelyn Maya held that there is no law empowering the VIO to stop, impound, confiscate, seize or impose fine on motorists.
The court declared that the 1st defendant (Directorate of Road Traffic Services) to 4th Respondents under the control of the 5th Respondent (Minister of the Federal Capital Territory) are not empowered by any law or statute to stop, impound, confiscate the vehicles of motorists and or impose fine on motorists.
The Judge, therefore, issued an order restraining the 1st to 4th respondents either through their agents, servants and or assigns from impounding, confiscating the vehicle of motorists and or imposing fine on any motorist as doing so is wrongful, oppressive and unlawful by themselves.
The court also made an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents whether by themselves, agents, privies, allies or anybody acting on behalf of the 1st Respondent from further violating the rights of Nigerians to freedom of movement, presumption of innocence and right to own property without lawful justification.
