The Court of Appeal in Abuja affirmed a lower court’s ruling, prohibiting the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) from impounding vehicles or imposing fines on motorists. This unanimous decision upheld a Federal High Court judgment from October 16, 2024, dismissing the VIO’s appeal for lacking merit.
The ruling stemmed from a fundamental rights suit filed by lawyer Abubakar Marshal, whose vehicle was unlawfully confiscated. Justice Nkeonye Maha of the Federal High Court had declared VIO actions as oppressive and unlawful, a stance now definitively confirmed by the Appeal Court, which also awarded Marshal N2.5 million in damages.