By Seyi Odewale
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld a Federal High Court judgment restraining the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (VIO) from stopping, impounding, or confiscating vehicles and imposing fines on motorists.
A three-member panel of the appellate Court delivered its decision on Thursday, dismissing the VIO’s appeal against the earlier October 4, 2024, ruling.
Justice Oyejoju Oyebiola Oyewumi, who led the panel, held that the appeal lacked merit and ordered the Directorate to pay N1 million in costs to the respondent, rights activist and public-interest lawyer, Abubakar Marshal.
“This decision reinforces the protection of motorists’ rights and curtails arbitrary enforcement actions by VIO,” Justice Oyewumi stated.
The Court resolved all issues against the VIO, effectively sustaining the ban on vehicle impoundments and fines pending any further legal processes.
The case stemmed from widespread public complaints and rights-advocacy efforts highlighting what motorists described as unlawful enforcement practices by the VIO on Nigerian roads.
