Abuja Court Verdict Banning VIO From Impounding Cars/Imposing Fines Doesn’t Apply In Lagos, LASG Clarifies

Federal High Court judgement in Abuja banning VIO from impounding vehicles, imposing fines doesn’t apply in Lagos, LASG clarifies.

LASG said court judgement is limited to Abuja as no law empowers the VIO in Abuja to conduct inspections or issue fines.

Unlike in Abuja, it noted that the Transport Sector Reform Law of Lagos State (TSRL-2018) grants the VIO in Lagos the power to do so.

The Lagos State Government has clarified that the recent Federal High Court judgement in Abuja, barring the Directorate of Vehicle Inspection Services (VIO) from impounding vehicles and imposing fines on motorists does not apply in Lagos.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said while no law empowers the VIO in Abuja to conduct inspections or issue fines, he noted that the Transport Sector Reform Law of Lagos State (TSRL-2018) grants the VIO in Lagos the power to do so.

On whether the VIO in Lagos State or that of other States would be affected by the decision, Osiyemi stated that “it is important to note and be informed that a Court has limits of its territorial jurisdiction, and in this case, the judgment is restricted to Abuja.

“It is also important to know the rationale of the judgment of Hon. 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.

In contrast, he said 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, with the penalties or fines that can be imposed for traffic violations as contained in schedule of the law (violations-1-52)

“Therefore the decision of the Federal High Court Abuja on VIO is inapplicable in Lagos State. Motorists in Lagos State are advised to continue to be law abiding, uphold the TSRL, and respect the VIO.”

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