Lagos ignores Abuja court ruling as VIO continue to impound vehicles

Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, on Tuesday, made it clear that the recent Federal High Court judgment in Abuja, restricting the Directorate of Road Traffic Services from stopping vehicles, impounding them, or imposing fines on motorists, does not apply in Lagos.

According to Osiyemi during a press briefing in Lagos, the Transport Sector Reform Law of Lagos State (TSRL-2018) empowers Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) operatives to stop and impound vehicles.

The commissioner emphasized that the Abuja judgment, delivered by Justice Evelyn Maha, is limited in scope and jurisdiction.

“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 the establishment, duties, and power of VIO in the state,” Osiyemi explained.

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“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 TSRL-2018 law outlines the penalties and fines for traffic violations, as contained in the schedule of the law (violations 1-52). Therefore, Osiyemi concluded that the Federal High Court Abuja’s decision on VIO is inapplicable in Lagos State.

Osiyemi urged motorists in Lagos to continue upholding the provisions of the transport sector reform law and advised them to be law-abiding. This stance is consistent with the Lagos State Government’s efforts to maintain order and safety on its roads.

In a similar vein, the state government had previously announced plans to implement the “No Inspection, No Certificate of Roadworthiness” policy, aimed at improving safety and reducing accidents on Lagos roads. The policy requires vehicle owners to undergo inspection at any of the Lagos Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre (LACVIS) before obtaining a Certificate of Roadworthiness.

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