Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) in the Federal Capital Territory face increased uncertainty after the Abuja Court of Appeal upheld a ruling prohibiting them from stopping, impounding, or confiscating vehicles, delivering a fresh setback following weeks of complaints over the loss of “extra-official” revenue since FCT Minister Nyesom Wike restricted their operations on the roads.
the October 2, 2024, ruling by Justice Evelyn Maha of the Federal High Court, which declared that the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) lacks legal authority to stop motorists or impose fines. A three-member panel dismissed the VIOs’ appeal, ruling against the agency on all issues.
The ruling piles onto the woes of VIO officials who had quietly lamented dwindling personal income after Wike earlier barred them from the roads entirely — later permitting operations only on Wednesdays and Fridays. Many officers had admitted, off record, that the bulk of their earnings came from “road activities” widely associated with extortion and unreceipted fines.
The case that triggered the landmark ruling was filed by Abuja lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, who accused VIO operatives of unlawfully confiscating his Honda vehicle without granting him fair hearing. Justice Maha agreed, describing the actions of the DRTS officials as wrongful, oppressive, and unlawful, issuing a perpetual injunction restraining them from interfering with motorists’ rights.
The judge held that neither the DRTS nor its commanders — all under the control of the FCT Minister — are empowered by any law to seize vehicles or levy fines. She also awarded N2.5 million costs against the agency.
In upholding the judgment on Thursday, Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi of the Court of Appeal dismissed the VIOs’ arguments as “without merit” and imposed a ₦1 million cost on the agency. With Minister Wike’s restrictions already limiting their presence on Abuja roads, the ruling effectively strips VIOs of the legal authority to resume the controversial enforcement practices that had long served as a major revenue source, both official and unofficial. The decision is expected to prompt adjustments in FCT traffic management, while many motorists hail it as the “final death” of roadside harassment disguised as vehicle inspection.
