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Tag: VIO

  • UPDATED: Appeal Court affirms judgment barring VIO from stopping, impounding vehicles

    UPDATED: Appeal Court affirms judgment barring VIO from stopping, impounding vehicles

    …cost against VIO rises to N3.5m

    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.

    The N1million cost awarded by the Court of Appeal is in addition to the N2.5million cost earlier awarded by the Federal High Court against the DRTS and its officials.

    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.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Appeal Court affirms judgment barring VIO from stopping, impounding vehicles

    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.

    The judge held that the first to the fourth respondents, who are under the control of the fifth respondent (FCT minister), are not empowered by any law or statute to stop, impound, or confiscate vehicles and/or impose fines on motorists.

    She issued an order restraining the first to the fifth respondents, either through their agents, servants, and or assigns, from impounding, confiscating the vehicles of motorists, and or imposing fines on any motorist.

    Justice Maha held that doing so is wrongful, oppressive, and unlawful.

    The judge also issued an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents, whether by themselves, agents, privies, allies, or anybody acting on behalf of the first respondent, from further violating the rights of Nigerians to freedom of movement, presumption of innocence, and right to own property without lawful justification.

    She proceeded to award a cost of N2.5million against the defendants.

  • BREAKING: Appeal Court affirms judgment barring VIO from stopping, impounding vehicles

    BREAKING: Appeal Court affirms judgment barring VIO from stopping, impounding vehicles

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the October 4, 2024 judgment of a Federal High Court in Abuja barring the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (popularly called 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, the Directorate of Road Traffic Services.

    Read Also: Court strikes out stealing charge against businessman

    Justice Oyejoju Oyebiola Oyewumi, who delivered the lead judgment, held that the appeal was without merit. She awarded a cost of N1million against the appellant and in favour of the respondent, a rights activist and public interest attorney, Abubakar Marshal.

    Details shortly…

  • Woman arrested for posing as VIO, extorting job applicants

    Woman arrested for posing as VIO, extorting job applicants

    Operatives of the Adamawa State Police Command have arrested a woman who allegedly posed as a Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) and taking money from job applicants for non-existing jobs.

    The command, which identified the woman as Face Samuel, said yesterday that the woman was apprehended earlier on Tuesday.

    The command said in a statement signed by Police Public Relations Officer Suleiman Nguroje that the suspect on several occasions acted as a VIO and defrauded people.

    Read Also: Tinubu issues fresh security directives, says ‘enough is enough’ – Ribadu

    The statement named the victims as Blessing Kefas, Abel Samuel, Evlyne Amos, and Friday Adamu, from whom the woman collected a total of N350,000 under the pretence of securing employment for them with the Vehicle Inspection Office, Ministry of Transportation, Adamawa State.

    According to the statement, “The suspect confessed to committing the crime and disclosed that the V.I.O’s uniform used in the fraudulent act was given to her by a yet-to-be identified person.”

    Nguroje stated that the Commissioner of Police, Dankombo Morris, has urged the public to report people of such character and assured a diligent Investigation to uncover the collaborators involved in Samuel’s crime.

  • Court judgment on VIO’s power not applicable to Lagos, says govt

    Court judgment on VIO’s power not applicable to Lagos, says govt

    The Lagos State government has said the High Court judgment barring the Vehicle Inspection Services (VIO) from contravening and imposing fines on vehicle owners does not apply in the state.

    Transportation Commissioner Oluwaseun Osiyemi explained that while no law empowers the VIO in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to impose fines, stop or impound vehicles, Lagos State has the Transport Sector Reform Law (TSRL) 2018, which empowers the state’s VIOs to impose penalties on errant motorists.

    He said: “The judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja bars the Directorate of Vehicle Inspection Services (otherwise called VIO) from further stopping, impounding or confiscating vehicles and imposing fines on motorists, and whether the VIO in Lagos State or that of other states would be affected by the decision. It is important to note and be informed that in law, a court has the limits to its territorial jurisdiction and in this case the judgment is restricted to Abuja.”

    Read Also: Tinubu orders police to end Rivers post-election violence

    The commissioner explained the rationale behind the judgment of Justice Evelyn Maha in the fundamental rights enforcement suit that birthed the judgment.

    “In Lagos State, there is the Transport Sector Reform Law of Lagos State (TSRL-2018). Part II, sections 11 to 22 of the law stipulate the establishment, duties and power of VIO in the state with the penalties or fines that can be imposed for traffic violations, as contained in schedule of the law (violations-1-52).

    “The decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja on VIO is inapplicable in Lagos State,” he said.

  • Court judgment: VIO Lagos directorate operations not affected – Commissioner

    Court judgment: VIO Lagos directorate operations not affected – Commissioner

    The Lagos State Government says the Federal High Court judgment in Abuja barring the Directorate of Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) from stopping and impounding vehicles does not affect VIO Lagos directorate operations.

    The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.

    Osiyemi said it was important to note that in law a court has limits of its territorial jurisdiction and in this case the judgment was restricted to Abuja.

    “ It is also important to know the rationale of the judgment of Justice Evelyn Maha in the fundamental rights enforcement suit: FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023.
    “The rationale is that there is no law which empowers the VIO in Abuja to stop, impound seize, or impose fines on motorists, whereas in Lagos State, there is the Transport Sector Reform Law of Lagos State (TSRL-2018) which dictates; Part II, Section 11-22 of the law to the establishment, duties and power of VIO in the state.
    “This is with the penalties or fines that can be imposed for traffic violations as contained in schedule of the law (violations-1-52).

    Read Also: Tinubu orders police to end Rivers post-election violence

    “Therefore, the decision of the Federal High Court Abuja on VIO is inapplicable in Lagos State,” he said.

    The commissioner advised motorists in Lagos State to continue to be law abiding, uphold the Transport Sector Reform Law, and respect the VIO.

    (NAN)

  • Court bars VIO from stopping, impounding vehicles

    Court bars VIO from stopping, impounding vehicles

    • ‘You can’t impose fines on motorists’

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order barring the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (popularly called VIO) from further stopping, impounding or confiscating vehicles on the road and imposing fines on motorists.

    Justice Evelyn Maha issued the order in a judgment on a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by a rights activist and public interest attorney, Abubakar Marshal.

    The order is said to bind the Director of Road Transport; the Area Commander, Jabi, and the Team Leader, Jabi; as well as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), all listed as respondents in the case.

    In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, Justice Maha upheld Marshal’s argument that no law empowers the respondents to stop, impound, confiscate and seize vehicles or impose fine on motorists.

    Read Also: Senate makes U-turn passes South-South Devt Commission Bill for second reading

    The judge held that the first to the fourth respondents, who are under the control of the fifth respondent (FCT minister) are not empowered by any law or statute to stop, impound or confiscate vehicles and/or impose fines on motorists.

    She issued an order restraining the first to the fifth respondents either through their agents, servants and or assigns from impounding, confiscating the vehicles of motorists and or imposing fines on any motorist.

    Justice Maha held that doing so is wrongful, oppressive, and unlawful.

    The judge also issued an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents, whether by themselves, agents, privies, allies or anybody acting on behalf of the first respondent from further violating the rights of Nigerians to freedom of movement, presumption of innocence and right to own property without lawful justification.

  • N25,000 replacement fee for faded plate numbers justifiable, legal – VIO

    N25,000 replacement fee for faded plate numbers justifiable, legal – VIO

    The Spokesman, Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), FCT, Mr Kalu Emetu, says the N25,000 the service charges motorists for replacement of faded number plates is legal and justifiable based on its mandate.

    Emetu made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

    He said that what people failed to understand was that there was no way the agency would replace faded number plates to motorists free of charge, after they have used them for a period of time.

    “The question people normally ask is, why should we charge motorists or ask them to pay fine for what they got from us.

    “You see, everything in life has its life span. A situation where somebody uses a number plate say two to three years, not minding the way the person was using it and gets faded.

    “Therefore, it is wrong for the person to feel that another one should be given to him or her free of charge,” he said.

    According to him, one of the major reasons why most of the number plates do not last or fades easily is basically the way and manner the owners handle them.

    The spokesman added that some of them go as far using chemicals to wash their cars in the name of making them looking crispy at the expense of the number plates.

    “Even the vehicles itself, the colour it comes with, does not retain it for years after a while it changes or fades away outrightly.

    “So, the way most people use, clean or wash their vehicles contributes so much to the life span of the number plates even the car itself, ” he said.

    On which law empowers the service to impose fine on motorists-the spokesman explained that section 299, 301 and 302, of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria empowers DRTS to do so.

    According to him, it also empowers the service to impound vehicles and prosecute the owners when it is logically proved of having committed any traffic offence be it faded number plate.

    “Mind you number plates are for identification, it is expected to see that the number is visibly seen from at least 20 metres away.

    Read Also: FCTA vows to impound more vehicles, arrest violators of environmental rules

    “And, in a situation where it is not, it simply means that it cannot perform the function with which it is meant for. So, such vehicles can be used to perpetrate crimes in the society.

    “So, on our own part as the custodians of the usage of such vehicles on the roads, inline with the mandate given to us we are suppose to see it as not good enough to the society by doing the needful.

    “Therefore, if we fail to do the needful, chances are that it may create a chain of problems to the society.

    “So, that is why we make sure that such vehicles that bears number plates and will not give full identity of that vehicle, is sorted out from others,” he said.

    He said that all these efforts were geared towards bringing sanity to the roads in the FCT as well as its residents.(NAN)

  • VIOs cause tanker accident in Minna

    Two Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) in Minna have caused a tanker accident injuring the driver and his boy.

    A struggle for the steering of the tanker caused the tanker which was filled with water to overturn at the eastern bypass in front of the Nigeria Customs Service office in Minna.

    One of the Officers was said to have jumped on the driver’s side of the tanker and started struggling for the steering with the driver which led to both losing control of the tanker.

    The other one was in hot pursuit with a motorcycle belonging to the VIO office.

    Eyewitnesses said that the driver and the VIO officer had been struggling with the steering from the Minna City gate however the reason why the officer had to jump into the tanker remains unknown.

    The driver and his boy sustained serious injuries when the tanker overturned while the VIO officer sustained minor injury.

    The victims were left unchecked as the VIO whisked their man who sustained injury in their van leaving bystanders to rescue the victims.

    The victims were taken to the IBB Specialist Hospital.

    The action of the Vehicle Inspection Officers angered tanker drivers who used their trucks to block the road preventing movement for hours demanding for the presence of government before they leave the road.

    Speaking to The Nation, the Discipline Officer of Water Tankers Association in Minna, Mohammed Musa lamented over what he termed ‘the overzealousness of the VIOs in Minna’.

    Read Also; FG flags-off project to deliver additional 624mw in FCT

    He said that they (water tankers drivers) are harassed at will by the officers who demand money from them, “despite the fact that we pay tax to the state government through the water board.”

    “We blocked the road because we want the VIOs and government to come and tell us why the VIOs continually disturb us when we are carrying out our business.

    “They disturb us for minute issues just to give us problem. We want the government to warn the VIOs to leave us alone. If they have any problem with any of our drivers, they can trace the driver to our association office or the water board instead of struggling with the steering with them.”

    It took the presence of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Abdullahi Imam and the Police to quell the tempers of the tanker drivers before they willingly took their trucks off the road.

    The Permanent Secretary promised to take up the bills of the two injured persons and instructed that a young van come to toll the tanker away at the expense of the state government.

  • Police, VIO, FRSC officials win award

    DIVISONAL Police Officer of Itele CSP Akanbi Olusegun; Ado/Odo Ota Divisional Commander of Vehicles Inspection Paul Kehinde Osukoya, and the Ota Unit  Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Adekunle Oguntoyinbo have won awards for good performance.

    The award was given to them by DAMA Media Concept, publisher of The Voice magazine. The ceremony was part of activities to mark the firm’s seventh anniversary.

    Also given awards were Ota NBA Chairman Isaac Ogbah; Atan Unit Commander of Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) Commander Rinaye Tayo; Dean of Cathedral Church of St. James Ven. Nelson Adewole; and Director of Needles Network Prince Adeoye Abiodun.

    Others were Sango-Ota Vigilance Commander Odunbaku Tajudeen and Atan Community Development Committee Chairman Comrade Lekan Abatan.

    The one-week event started with donation of foods and domestic items to orphanage homes, and road signages to road traffic agencies.

    The event, tagged: “Role of Media towards a better Poll in 2019 Elections”, was attended by dignitaries including monarchs, political stalwarts, captains of industries and other security and safety agencies.

    Publisher of The Voice, Otunba Moses Oladele, said the management was convinced to honour the awardees for their vital roles to the development of Nigeria.

    He said: “We honoured these people because they have contributed greatly to the development of this country through job creation, youth empowerment, and philanthropy. They have also showed diligence, honesty and loyalty in their offices.

    “We selected them based on their commitment, God-fearing attitude, and integrity. It is noteworthy to celebrate those who have not soiled their hands or tarnished the image of our country, but rather added value to it.”

  • VIO chief gets Osun first Man of the Year

    An Assistant Director at the Vehicle Inspectorate Office (VIO) in Abuja, and an indigene of Ilesa in Osun State, Asiwaju Tunde Aregbesola, has been awarded the first Osun State Man of the Year.

    The award was organised by the Nigerian Outstanding Leadership Award Forum (NOLAF).

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Akure, Ondo State capital, the awards committee coordinator Dr Akinbiola Sunday noted that Aregbesola is an enigma and erudite public servant, who has contributed to the development of Osun State and Nigeria, especially in bringing sanity to traffic situation.

    Akinbiola said as part of the programme, a book: The Diary of An Enigma – An Oasis in the Desert, the biography of the awardee, would be launched during the event at Idleness Hotel, GRA, Osogbo.

    Guest Speaker is the Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Prof Opeyemi Ogunmodede and the special guest/chief host is Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola.

    The Owa-Obokun of Ijesa, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, will be the royal father, with the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun as royal host.

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Nguru Nsani, will chair the occasion and the Director-General of Vehicle Inspectorate Department in Abuja, Wadata Aliyu Bodinga, the guest of honour.