Court Restricts VIO’s Powers: No More Vehicle Confiscation or Fines

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the Directorate of Road Services, commonly known as the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO), must immediately stop confiscating vehicles or imposing fines for road traffic violations across Nigeria. The ruling was delivered on October 2, 2024, by Justice Nkeonye Evelyn Maha in the case FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023.

Justice Maha, in her judgment, declared that the VIO lacks the legal authority to seize vehicles or impose heavy sanctions on motorists. This decision, resulting from a lawsuit filed by human rights lawyer Abubakar Marshal of Falana and Falana Chambers, significantly limits the powers of the VIO, one of the most feared traffic enforcement agencies in the country. The ruling is seen as a major relief for millions of motorists nationwide.

The court’s order does not affect the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), which remains the primary traffic enforcement agency in Nigeria, having operated for decades.

In her judgment, Justice Maha stated that VIO officers “are not empowered by any law or statute to stop, impound, confiscate vehicles, or impose fines on motorists.”

She further issued a perpetual injunction restraining the VIO and its agents from violating Nigerians’ rights to freedom of movement, the presumption of innocence, and the right to own property without lawful justification.

It remains unclear whether the VIO will comply with the court’s ruling, as a request for comment from a spokesman for the directorate went unanswered as of Thursday afternoon.