The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, affirmed the judgment that barred the Directorate of Road Traffic Services and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) from confiscating or imposing fines on motorists.
The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of Justices, said it found no reason to set aside the October 16, 2024, verdict of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which prohibited the VIO from harassing motorists on the road.
Consequently, it was dismissed as lacking in merit, an appeal that was lodged before it by the VIO.
The lead judgment of the appellate court in the matter was read by Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi.
It will be recalled that Justice Nkeonye Maha of the high court had declared that no law empowered the VIO to stop, impound, confiscate, seize or impose fine on motorists for any form of violation.
The judgment followed a fundamental right enforcement suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023, which was filed by a public interest lawyer, Mr. Abubakar Marshal.
The Applicant told the court that he was forcefully stopped by VIO officials at Jabi District in Abuja on December 12, 2023, and his vehicle was confiscated without any lawful justification.
He, among other thing, prayed the court to determine if the action of the VIO officials was not wrongful, oppressive, unlawful and a gross violation of his fundamental human rights.
While granting the reliefs that were sought by the Applicant, Justice Maha specifically restrained the Respondents, either through their agents, servants and or assigns, from impounding and confiscating vehicles or imposing fine on any motorists, as doing so would be wrongful, oppressive and unlawful.
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