Lagos, Nigeria – October 7, 2024
The Lagos State Government has clarified that the recent ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which restricts the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) from stopping vehicles, impounding them, or imposing fines on motorists, does not apply within Lagos State. This statement was made following reports of a judgment delivered by Justice Evelyn Maha on October 2, 2024, The Bureau Newspaper has gathered.
The judgment, which emerged from a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by human rights activist Abubakar Marshal, concluded that there was no legal basis for the VIO and its officials to stop or fine motorists in Abuja. However, Lagos State officials were quick to emphasize that the ruling is territorially limited to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and does not extend to Lagos.
Speaking on the matter, Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, addressed the confusion, noting that Lagos operates under a distinct legal framework. “It is important to note and be informed that, in law, a court has limits to its territorial jurisdiction, and in this case, the judgment is restricted to Abuja,” he said.
Osiyemi further explained that the ruling in Abuja stemmed from the absence of a specific law empowering the VIO to act within the capital, whereas Lagos is governed by the Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018, which clearly defines the powers and duties of the VIO in the state.
“Lagosians should be aware that the VIO retains its authority to inspect vehicles, enforce road safety standards, and levy fines where necessary, as stipulated under Lagos law,” Osiyemi concluded.
The clarification is intended to prevent any misconceptions about the enforcement of traffic regulations in Lagos, as the state continues to uphold its existing legal framework for vehicle inspections and road safety initiatives.