The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday made an order restraining the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (VIO) from further impounding, confiscating, or fineing motorists.
A human rights activist and public interest attorney, Abubakar Marshal, filed the suit in Abuja.
While giving her verdict, Justice NE Maha agreed with the applicant.
She held, “There is no law empowering the Respondents to stop, impound, confiscate, seize or impose fine on motorists.”
The court further made a declaration that the 1st (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, and confiscate the vehicles of motorists and or impose fine on motorists.
Also, 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 a 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 Nigerians’ rights to freedom of movement, the presumption of innocence, and the right to own property without lawful justification, Inter alia.
