What Appeal Court Rules Declaring VIO illegal in Nigeria really Mean

On December 4, 2025, the Court of Appeal (sitting in Abuja) unanimously upheld a ruling that prohibits VIO (and its parent agency Directorate of Road Traffic Services, DRTS) from stopping, impounding, confiscating vehicles or imposing fines on motorists. The appeal by VIO was dismissed. The Court found “no iota of merit” in their appeal. The Court’s decision affirmed earlier findings by the Federal High Court in Abuja (in case FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023) which initially declared that there is no law empowering VIO to impound vehicles or fine motorists for traffic‐related offences.

The Court found that VIO and its officials lack statutory authority; in other words, no law empowers them to seize vehicles or levy fines on motorists. The earlier High Court judgment (now upheld) characterized such actions like impounding, confiscation, fines as “wrongful, oppressive and unlawful.” The Court also issued a perpetual injunction restraining VIO (and related agencies, their agents or assigns) from repeating such actions, effectively making the ruling permanent.

THIS IS WHAT THE JUDGEMENT MEANS

★ VIO officers cannot legally stop motorists on the road for the purpose of impounding or fining their vehicles.

★ VIO cannot confiscate or impound vehicles under traffic‐ or inspection-related pretexts.

★ VIO cannot levy fines or other monetary penalties against motorists or drivers for traffic violations, at least not on the basis of the powers they claimed before.

Any attempt to do so would be unlawful, oppressive, and a violation of fundamental rights.
Any attempt to do so would be unlawful, oppressive, and a violation of fundamental rights.

Do you think the judgement is in favour of the struggling drivers? Let’s hear your thoughts on this in the comment section.