Lawyers challenge police over third-party insurance enforcement, threaten court action

A coalition of lawyers under the banner of Deji Adeyanju and Partners has issued a stern call to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, urging him to halt the proposed enforcement of third-party vehicle insurance within 48 hours.

In a strongly worded letter titled “Urgent Request to Halt the Proposed Enforcement of the Third-Party Insurance for Vehicle Owners” and signed by Deji Adeyanju on Tuesday, the legal team questioned the legality of the move, asserting that it falls outside the statutory powers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The lawyers warned that if the policy isn’t suspended, they will approach the courts to determine whether the NPF has the authority to enforce third-party insurance.

“This enforcement is not only unpopular but also not supported by the Police Act, which governs the Nigeria Police Force,” the letter stated.

The lawyers raised concerns that implementing such enforcement would expose already overburdened Nigerian motorists to further extortion at the hands of police officers.

“We stumbled on reports of the NPF’s plan to enforce third-party insurance for vehicle owners. Initially, we dismissed it as a baseless rumor, but subsequent confirmation by your office has compelled us to act swiftly,” the letter continued.

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Citing legal precedents, including the 2023 Supreme Court ruling in Nwaboshi v F.R.N & Ors, the lawyers argued that the powers of the NPF are not as expansive as the move suggests. They noted that regulatory authority over vehicle and road safety matters rests with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), not the police.

“The Nigeria Police Force lacks the vires to enforce third-party insurance in Nigeria. Such a move would be an overreach of its statutory powers,” the lawyers argued.

They also accused the police of shifting focus from its constitutional mandate of protecting lives and property to revenue generation.

“This growing emphasis on revenue collection undermines public trust in the NPF and deviates from its core responsibilities. The enforcement must be discarded immediately,” the letter added.

The legal team emphasized that their intervention was not just about legality but about shielding Nigerian motorists from undue hardship and exploitation.

The IGP is yet to respond to the letter as debates around the proposed enforcement continue to dominate public discourse, with many Nigerians expressing skepticism about its potential impact on road safety and fairness.

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