Court Bans VIO From Collecting Vehicles, Fines — for the Third Time
A Federal High Court in Abuja has barred the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (VIO) from stopping vehicles, impounding them, or imposing fines on motorists.
The order was issued by Justice Evelyn Maha in response to a fundamental rights enforcement suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023) filed by human rights activist and public interest attorney, Abubakar Marshal.
The order also applies to the Director of Road Transport, the Area Commander of Jabi, the Team Leader of Jabi, and the Minister of the FCT, all listed as respondents. In the judgment delivered on Wednesday, October 2, Justice Maha upheld Marshal’s argument, stating that no law grants the respondents the authority to stop, impound, confiscate, seize, or fine motorists.
The judge declared that the first to fourth respondents, under the control of the fifth respondent (Minister of the FCT), are not authorized by any law to stop, impound, or confiscate vehicles or impose fines on motorists.
