…Awards ₦10m to motorist
The Court of Appeal in Owerri, Imo state, has ruled that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has no legal authority to seize drivers’ licences, vehicles, or documents without lawful justification.
The judgment came in Appeal No: CA/OW/199/2022 involving the FRSC and Dr. Emmanuel Ugochukwu Shebbs. The court upheld an earlier ruling that declared such seizures a violation of fundamental human rights. However, it reduced the damages awarded from ₦30 million to ₦10 million.
The incident occurred in 2020 during a Covid-19 lockdown. Dr. Shebbs said FRSC officials, after confirming his documents were in order, demanded a bribe. When he declined, they fabricated charges, seized his licence, and issued a ₦3,000 fine.
Rejecting informal options to resolve the issue, Shebbs took legal action to challenge the abuse of power. He said his goal was to set a legal precedent and stand up for Nigerian youths frequently harassed by law enforcement.
“The Appeal Court has now made it clear—FRSC cannot seize your documents unless they intend to charge you to court”, he said.
He urged Nigerians whose licences or vehicles were seized without cause to seek redress.
