Appeal Court affirms judgment barring VIO from stopping, impounding vehicles

VIO vehicle

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the October 2, 2024 judgment of a Federal High Court in Abuja barring the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), also known as VIO, from further stopping, impounding, or confiscating vehicles on the road and imposing fines on motorists.

In a judgment on Thursday, a three-member panel of the appellate court resolved the three issues identified for determination against the appellant, DRTS.

Justice Oyejoju Oyebiola Oyewumi, who delivered the lead judgment, held that the appeal, marked: CA/ABJ/CV/1243/2024, was without merit.

Justice Oyewumi awarded a cost of N1million against the appellant and in favour of the respondent, an Abuja-based rights activist and public interest lawyer, Marshall Abubakar.

Justice Oyejoju Oyebiola Oyewumi, who delivered the lead judgment, held that the appeal, marked: CA/ABJ/CV/1243/2024, was without merit.

Justice Oyewumi awarded a cost of N1million against the appellant and in favour of the respondent, an Abuja-based rights activist and public interest lawyer, Marshall Abubakar.

Abubakar had sued before the Federal High Court in Abuja, claiming that some DRTS officials had confiscated his Honda car without affording him a fair hearing.

Sued along with the DRTS are the Director of Road Transport, the Area Commander, Jabi, the Team Leader, Jabi, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In the October 2, 2024 judgment, Justice Evelyn Maha upheld Abubakar’s case and granted all the reliefs sought by the plaintiff.

Justice Maha agreed with the plaintiff that no law empowers the respondents to stop, impound, confiscate, and seize vehicles or impose a fine on motorists.