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Court bars VIO from confiscating vehicles, imposing fines on motorists

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The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has barred the Directorate of Road Traffic Services and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) from confiscating or imposing fines on motorists.
The court, in a judgement that was delivered by Justice Nkeonye Maha, held that no law empowered the VIO to stop, impound, confiscate, seize or impose fines on motorists for any form of violation.

The judgement followed a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023, which was filed by a public interest lawyer, Mr. Abubakar Marshal.

Justice Maha, while granting reliefs that were sought by the plaintiff, specifically restrained the Respondents, either through their agents, servants and or assigns, from impounding and confiscating vehicles or imposing a fine on any motorist as doing so would be wrongful, oppressive and unlawful.

The court also issued an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents, whether by themselves

agents, privies, allies or anybody acting on behalf of the 1st Respondent (Directorate of Road Traffic Services), from further violating the rights of Nigerians to freedom of movement, presumption of innocence and right to own property without lawful justification.

Justice Maha held that only a court of competent jurisdiction could impose a fine or sanction any motorist who was found to have acted in breach of any extant law.

It declared that the 1st to 4th Respondents in the matter, which are under the control of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (5th defendant), are not empowered by any law or statute to stop, impound or confiscate vehicles and or impose fines on motorists.
▪︎ Vanguard

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Police must pay transport fares, says AIG

” No police officer has the right to enter your vehicle without paying. We should assist one another willingly, not by force,” he said.

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The Assistant Inspector-General of Police(AIG) in charge of Zone 2 Command, Mr Olohundare Jimoh, speaking with transporters at Obalende garage, Lagos State, on Wednesday.

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2 Command, Mr Olohundare Jimoh, has declared that officers must pay fares before boarding commercial vehicles, warning against abuse of authority.

Jimoh spoke on Wednesday at Obalende garage during a sensitisation meeting with drivers and transport workers marking National Police Day 2026.

He stressed that relations between police and the public must be based on partnership, not coercion, urging both sides to support each other voluntarily.

“No police officer has the right to enter your vehicle without paying. We should assist one another willingly, not by force,” he said.

Jimoh called for stronger cooperation to maintain safety and order on roads, insisting there was no conflict between officers and transport unions.

“I don’t collect money from officers. We don’t arrest people arbitrarily. If you have issues with any officer, report directly to me,” he said.

(Vanguard)

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Tinubu scurries to Jos after Mutfwang’s security brief

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will leave for Jos tomorrow to commiserate with the state government and residents over recent deadly gun attacks that lefts dozens dead.

This was following Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s security briefing to the President on the recent violent attack in Angwan Rukuba, Plateau State.

During the meeting on Wednesday at the presidential villa in Abuja, Governor Caleb Mutfwang told Mr President that although security forces have restored calm after fresh disturbances involving looters on Wednesday morning, following the deadly Palm Sunday attack that left more than a dozen dead and many others injured.

He said that investigations are continuing to determine the identities or motives of the attackers who are yet to be apprehended .

Presidency source said that President Tinubu was initially scheduled for a planned trip to Ogun State to flag off operations at the Gateway International Cargo Airport on Thursday.

From Jos, the President will travel to Lagos to observe Good Friday.

On Saturday, April 4, he will visit Ogun State to commission projects including the cargo airport.

He will then return to Lagos during the Easter holiday to commission several state infrastructure projects, including the Ojota/Opebi Link Bridge.

Before heading back to Abuja, the president will visit Bayelsa State on April 10 to commission projects completed under Governor Duoye Diri.

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JUST IN: Tinubu Heads to Jos Tomorrow, Postpones Ogun Trip for 5-State Visits

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will tomorrow embark on a visit to Jos, Plateau State, as the first leg of a five-state tour across the country.

The Presidency announced that the President has postponed his scheduled trip to Ogun State to enable him to commence the series of official visits.

Details of the remaining four states in the tour are expected to be released by the Presidency in due course.

The development comes as President Tinubu continues nationwide engagements aimed at assessing development projects, interacting with stakeholders, and addressing key national issues in the respective states.

Further updates on the itinerary will be communicated as the visits progress.

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