The Directorate of Road Services (widely known as VIO) has disclosed to Peoples Gazette that the agency is still reviewing the recent ruling of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court barring it from confiscating vehicles or imposing fines on Nigerians over road traffic violations. 

A VIO official, who gave her name as Funmi, representing the agency’s spokesman Kalu Nkata Emetu, told The Gazette on Monday that the agency was meeting on the matter to determine whether to appeal the judgment, indicating that no final decision has been made regarding an appeal or compliance with the ruling.

“The PPRO is on leave, but he said I should tell you that the administration is still looking at the judgement and has not made any decision on whether to appeal or not but will get back to you,” a VIO official explained.

The VIO management is expected to hold a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the ruling.

Justice Nkeonye Evelyn Maha said while delivering the judgment in FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023 on October 2, 2024, that the notorious road traffic inspectorate was not legally equipped to seize vehicles or impose severe sanctions on motorists.

The ruling, which followed a lawsuit by rights attorney Abubakar Marshal of Falana and Falana Chambers, significantly pruned the powers of one of the country’s most dreaded road traffic enforcers and brought respite to millions of motorists across the country. 

The order did not apply to the Federal Road Safety Corps, which has operated for decades as Nigeria’s largest body of road traffic marshals.

In her judgment, Ms Maha said VIO officers “are not empowered by any law or statute to stop, impound, confiscate the vehicles of motorists and or impose fine on motorists.”

Subsequently, the judge entered an order of perpetual injunction restraining the VIO and its agents, privies, allies or anybody acting on its behalf from further violating the rights of Nigerians to freedom of movement, presumption of innocence and right to own property without lawful justification.