Justice Nkeonye Maha of Federal High Court, Abuja has ordered the Directorate of Road Services (widely known as VIO) to immediately cease from confiscating vehicles or imposing fines on Nigerians over road traffic violations
The judge noted that VIO officers are not empowered by any law or statute to stop, impound, confiscate the vehicles or impose fines on motorists.
Justice Maha stated this on Wednesday in Abuja while delivering judgement on a case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023.
The judgement followed a lawsuit by rights attorney Abubakar Marshal of Falana and Falana Chambers.
The judgment has significantly pruned the powers of VIO and brought respite to millions of motorists across the country.
She said: “VIO officers are not empowered by any law or statute to stop, impound, confiscate the vehicles of motorists and or impose fines on motorists.”
The judge gave a perpetual injunction restraining the VIO and its agents, privies, allies or anybody acting on its behalf from further violating the rights of Nigerians to freedom of movement, presumption of innocence and right to own property without lawful justification
