Appeal Court affirms ruling barring VIO from seizing vehicles, imposing fines

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the ban against the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, also known as Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) from impounding, confiscating or imposing fine on motorists.

In the latest verdict, a three-member panel of justices on Thursday held that appeal brought by the Minister of FCT through his counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN) was devoid of any merit, and that the operations were illegal.

The panel commended the steadfastness of human rights lawyer, Marshal Abubakar in challenging the activities of the directorate and awarded the sum of N1 million in damages in his favour.

The latest order upheld an earlier ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja, delivered on October 3, 2024, by Justice Nkeonye Maha, who held that the VIO and other defendants are not empowered by any law or statute to stop, impound, or confiscate motorists’ vehicles, nor to impose fines on them.

A human rights activist and public interest Attorney, Abubakar Marshal, had filed the suit contending that there is no law empowering the respondents from the confiscating vehicles and imposing fines on motorists.

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 (VIO) from further violating the rights of Nigerians to freedom of movement, presumption of innocence and right to own property without lawful justification.

The respondents joined in the suit are the Director of Traffic Services; the Director, Directorate of Road Traffic Services; Mr Leo, the Area Commander, Directorate of Road Traffic Services; Onoja Solomon; Team Leader Directorate of Road Traffic Services, Jabi Area Command; and the Minister of FCT.