Court of appeal upholds ban on VIO vehicle impoundment and fines

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld a Federal High Court ruling that bans the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, popularly known as the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), from impounding vehicles, confiscating property, or imposing fines on motorists.
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‎A three-member panel of justices delivered the verdict on Thursday, dismissing the appeal filed by the Minister of the FCT. The court concluded that the VIO’s operations involving seizure and arbitrary fines were illegal and not empowered by any existing law. The ruling also awarded N1 million in damages to the human rights lawyer who brought the original suit.
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‎The Court acknowledged the Federal High Court ruling delivered by Justice Nkeonye Maha on October 3, 2024, which held that the VIO and its agents are not empowered by any law or statute to stop, impound, or confiscate motorists’ vehicles, nor to impose fines on them.
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‎The court issued an order of perpetual injunction restraining the VIO and its representatives from violating the rights of Nigerians to freedom of movement, presumption of innocence and right to own property without lawful justification.
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‎The panel recognized the effort of human rights lawyer Marshal Abubakar and awarded N1 million in damages in his favour.
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