A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has barred the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DTRS), otherwise known as the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), from stopping vehicles, confiscating them, and imposing fines on motorists.

Delivering the judgement in case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023 on Wednesday, October 2, Justice Nkeonye Evelyn Maha held that no law empowered the respondents to carry out such activities.

“The actions of the first to fourth respondents, under the control of the fifth respondent, are not empowered by any law or statute to stop, impound, or confiscate the vehicles of motorists or impose fines on them,” she said.

The judgement was given following a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by a human rights activist and lawyer, Abubakar Marshal, before the court.

Listed as respondents on the matter, the order also binds the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, the Director of Road Transport, and the Area Commander, Jabi.

Furthermore, a restraining order was issued by the court against the respondents, to stop them and their agents from impounding or confiscating vehicles or imposing fines, declaring such actions as improper, illegal, and oppressive.

The court issued a perpetual injunction to uphold Nigerians’ rights to their freedom of movement, presumption of innocence, and right to own property.

According to reports, the VIO have impounded 9,389 vehicles for various traffic offences between January and August this year in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The DTRS head of public relations and enlightenment, Kalu Emetu, in an interview, said drivers of the impounded vehicles were usually sent to a driving institute as penalties.

He also noted that the institute’s officers might even be stricter by withdrawing the licence of a driver who tends to be a danger to other road users.