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October 22, 2024
Despite a ruling of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja prohibiting the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) from stopping vehicles on the road, the Niger State Vehicle Inspection Organisation has noted that such ruling does not apply to the state.
Despite a ruling of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja prohibiting the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) from stopping vehicles on the road, the Niger State Vehicle Inspection Organisation has noted that such ruling does not apply to the state.
The position was communicated by the Executive Director of the Niger State Motor Vehicle Administration Agency, Bako Mohammed.
He spoke during a press conference in Minna, North Central Nigeria, ahead of the National Conference on Standardisation and Harmonisation of Vehicle Testing and Licensing.
He further argued that the state governor was constitutionally empowered to formulate laws guiding vehicular movement within the territory.
It would be recalled that in a ruling delivered by Justice Nkeonye Evelyn Maha, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that the VIO lacks legal authority to stop vehicles, confiscate them, or impose fines on motorists.
SaharaReporters reported that Honourable Justice N.E. Maha agreed with the Applicant that there is no law empowering the Respondents to stop, impound, confiscate, seize or impose fine on motorists .
The suit of the case was marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023 between Marshal Abubakar vs the Directorate of Road Traffic Services & 4 Ors.
The court in its judgement delivered on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, made a declaration that the 1st (Directorate of Road Traffic Services) to 4th Respondents under the control of the 5th Respondent (Minister of the Federal Capital Territory) are not empowered by any law or statute to stop, impound, confiscate the vehicles of motorists and or impose fine on motorists.
The court further ruled that no law empowers the VIO to carry out such actions.
The suit was filed by human rights activist and public interest attorney, Abubakar Marshal of the Falana and Falana Chambers.
The Niger State VIO head, Bako, further revealed that the forthcoming National Conference of Directors of Road Traffic, aimed to propose a unified standard for policies, safety, and security in motor vehicle administration across Nigeria.
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