The Commissioner of Transport in Lagos state, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, has said that the Federal High Court judgment banning men of the Vehicle Inspection Service otherwise known as VIO from stopping vehicles on the road, impounding erring vehicles and imposing fines on the owners of such vehicles does not apply in Lagos state.

Justice Evelyn Maha on October 3, issued the order in a judgment on a fundamental rights enforcement suit: FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023 filed by a human rights activist and public interest attorney, Abubakar Marshal. Also affected by the order are the Director of Road Transport; the Area Commander, Jabi, and the Team Leader, Jabi, and the Minister of the FCT, also listed as respondents. Read here.

In a statement released today October 9, the Commissioner stated that the ruling does not affect VIO operations in Lagos state. His statement reads;

‘’Following the Federal High Court judgment in Abuja barring the Directorate of Vehicle Inspection Services (otherwise known as VIO) from further stopping vehicles on the road, 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;

1. 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.

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

3. 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.