Lawyer writes Wike, seeks enforcement of court ban on VIO officials in FCT

Marshal Abubakar, a human rights lawyer, has asked Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), to comply with a court judgment restraining officials of the directorate of road traffic services (DRTS), also known as the vehicle inspection office (VIO) from stopping and impounding vehicles, and imposing fines on motorists in Abuja.

In a judgment delivered on October 3, 2024, Evelyn Maha, a federal high court judge, ruled that the VIO, which operates under the control of the FCT minister, has no legal authority to stop or impound vehicles, and fine drivers.

The judge issued a restraining order against the VIO from impounding vehicles or imposing fines in Abuja, describing such actions as oppressive, wrongful, and unlawful.

She also issued a perpetual injunction, prohibiting the VIO and its agents from violating citizens’ rights to freedom of movement, presumption of innocence, and ownership of property without lawful justification.

Although the VIO has appealed against the judgment, the appeal court has yet to give its verdict on the matter.

In a letter dated March 12, and addressed to the FCT minister, Abubakar accused the agency of openly defying the court’s order and also harassing motorists.

“Sadly, the officials of the directorate of road traffic services (VIO) in utter violation of the above express, binding and subsisting orders have resumed the stoppage, impounding, confiscation of cars and the imposition of fines within the FCT,” the letter reads.

“We have been inundated with calls over the renewed illegal activities of the VIO within the FCT and have move round the capital city to confirm their illegal operations which have led to violent confrontations between some of these officials and vexed motorists. Video evidence abounds.

“As a senior member of the legal profession, we are perturbed that officials under your command and authority could embark on such egregious and contemptuous disdain of an express order of the court.

“On account of the foregoing, dear minister, you are hereby required to employ the instrumentality of your good offices to restore compliance with the foregoing positive and binding orders pending the final determination of the appeal and cross-appeal processes.”

The lawyer noted that if the request is not complied with within seven days, “commencing from the date of receipt of this letter, we shall take all legal steps to commit you to prison for contempt of the orders of the court.”