Commissioner: Lagos not affected by court order stopping VIO from impounding vehicles

Oluwaseun Osiyemi, the commissioner for transportation in Lagos, says the judgment of the federal high court in Abuja that stops the directorate of road traffic services from stopping vehicles, impounding them, or imposing fines on motorists is not applicable in the state.

Speaking on Tuesday, Osiyemi said the transport sector reform law of Lagos state (TSRL-2018) empowers the vehicle inspection office (VIO) operatives to stop and impound vehicles.

Osiyemi said the ruling delivered by Evelyn Maha, the presiding judge, in a suit filed by human rights lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, is 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 commissioner said.

“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 the schedule of the law (violations-1-52). Therefore, the decision of the Federal High Court Abuja on VIO is inapplicable in Lagos State.”

The commissioner advised motorists in Lagos to continue to be law-abiding and uphold the provisions of the transport sector reform law.