A recent court decision that questioned the legitimacy of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), also known as the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), has resulted in the suspension of vehicle impoundment and fines being issued in Abuja.
This suspension follows a ruling on October 2nd by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which determined that the VIO was not authorized to stop cars or fine drivers.
The DRTS’s acting spokesperson, Funmi Oguntala, confirmed the agency’s appeal of the ruling in a phone interview on Saturday. The hearing is scheduled for November 5.
“For now, DRTS is only handling traffic control,” Ms Oguntala stated. “We will resume enforcement if the appeal is successful.”
The judgment stems from a suit filed by human rights lawyer Abubakar Marshal, who argued that the VIO’s actions – including stopping vehicles, issuing fines, and impounding cars – violated the constitutional rights of motorists.
Specifically, the case focused on the rights to freedom of movement and the presumption of innocence.
In her ruling, the judge, Evelyn Maha, agreed with Mr Marshal, stating that the DRTS lacked legal grounds to stop or confiscate vehicles or levy fines against motorists.
The court issued a restraining order preventing the VIO from continuing these practices, labelling them “unlawful” and “oppressive.”
The Federal Capital Territory Minister, the Director of the DRTS, and a number of other officials were named as respondents in Mr. Marshal’s lawsuit, which was filed under the case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023.