What Appeal Court Landmark Ruling Barring VIO from Stopping, Impounding Vehicles or Fining Motorists Mean

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed a Federal High Court judgment that prohibits the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), commonly known as the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), from stopping vehicles, impounding them, or imposing fines on motorists.

The ruling reinforces a perpetual injunction restraining VIO officials from violating motorists’ constitutional rights to freedom of movement, presumption of innocence, and ownership of property.

The legal action originated from a suit filed by human rights lawyer Marshal Abubakar after his vehicle was confiscated without justification in December 2023.

Last year, Justice Evelyn Maha of the Federal High Court ruled that the VIO, which operates under the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, lacks the legal authority to stop, impound, or fine drivers.

The court condemned these actions as “oppressive and unlawful” and stated that only a competent court can impose sanctions or fines.

The court awarded Abubakar N2.5 million in damages, rather than the N500 million he sought.

He was represented by a legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana.

Despite the VIO’s stated mandate—including vehicle registration, driver licensing, and traffic law enforcement—the court found that its practices breached constitutional rights to a fair hearing and freedom of movement.

In response, Deborah Osho, Acting Director of the DRTS, expressed frustration, stating that the agency plans to appeal. She highlighted challenges in enforcement, noting that outstanding unpaid fines exceed N409 million because offenders often ignore tickets when impoundment is not an option.

The judgment establishes that motorists subjected to fines or impoundment by VIO officials may now have legal grounds to challenge these actions.

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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