VIO vows to appeal court ruling barring fines, vehicle impoundments, laments rising “lawlessness”

The Department of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), known as Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO), has announced it will challenge a court judgment that prohibits it from fining motorists or confiscating their vehicles.

The Acting Director of the DRTS, Deborah Osho, expressed concern on Thursday about increasing traffic violations in the Federal Capital Territory following the ruling.

Her comments came after the Court of Appeal in Abuja upheld a lower court’s decision that barred VIO officials from stopping drivers, impounding vehicles, or imposing fines.

In a unanimous decision, a three-judge panel dismissed the VIO’s appeal, finding it without merit. The ruling affirms an October 2024 Federal High Court judgment that described such enforcement actions as oppressive and unlawful.

“We will certainly appeal,” stated Osho. “Just look at Airport Road—they have turned that place practically into a one-way.”

She highlighted the difficulties of enforcement, noting that offenders owe over N409 million in unpaid fines from tickets, which they routinely ignore.

“Have you ever seen anywhere in the world where traffic is well coordinated without enforcement?” she questioned.

The original case was brought by lawyer Abubakar Marshal, who argued that VIO operatives unlawfully seized his vehicle in December 2023.

The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Nkeonye Maha, ruled that no law empowers VIO officials to impose penalties, stating that only a court can sanction motorists.

The court awarded Marshal N2.5 million in damages for the violation of his fundamental rights to movement, property, and a fair hearing.

Despite the appellate court’s affirmation, the VIO maintains that the ruling hinders its ability to maintain order and safety on Abuja’s roads.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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