The Lagos State Government has stated that a recent Federal High Court ruling, which prohibits the Directorate of Vehicle Inspection Services from stopping vehicles and imposing fines, does not extend to Lagos.
The ruling, issued on October 2, 2024, by Justice Evelyn Maha of the Federal High Court in Abuja, stemmed from a lawsuit filed by human rights lawyer Abubakar Marshal.
Justice Maha ruled that there was no legal basis for the VIO in Abuja to stop or confiscate vehicles, nor impose fines on motorists.
However, in a statement released on Tuesday, Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, clarified that the ruling applies only to Abuja.
He explained that the court’s decision was based on the lack of a legal framework in the Federal Capital Territory empowering VIO officials to enforce such actions.
In contrast, Lagos operates under the 2018 Transport Sector Reform Law, which grants these powers to the VIO within the state.
Osiyemi further noted, “In law, courts have jurisdictional limits, and this ruling is restricted to Abuja. In Lagos, the VIO operates legally under our Transport Sector Reform Law.”
The statement was issued in response to concerns from Lagos residents about whether the ruling would impact VIO operations in the state.
