VIO restriction: Abuja court judgement not applicable in Lagos — Govt

THE Lagos State Government has explained that the Federal High Court judgment in Abuja barring the Directorate of Vehicle Inspection Services, popularly known as VIO, from stopping, impounding vehicles on the road, and imposing fines on motorists, is not applicable in Lagos state.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, while reacting to the judgement, argued that since there is the Transport Sector Reform Law of Lagos State, (TSRL-2018), the Federal High Court judgment is restricted to Abuja.

Osiyemi said: “In connection with the Federal High Court judgment in Abuja barring the Directorate of Vehicle Inspection Services (otherwise known as VIO) from further stopping vehicles on the road, impounding or confiscating vehicles, and imposing fines on motorists and whether the VIO in Lagos State or that of other states would be affected by the decision. It is important to note and be informed that in law, a court has limits of its territorial jurisdiction and in this case, the judgment is restricted to Abuja. 

“Secondly, it is also important to know the rationale of the judgment of Justice Evelyn Maha in the fundamental rights enforcement suit: FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023. 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; Part II, Section 11-22 of the law to the establishment, duties and power of VIO in the State, with the penalties or fines that can be imposed for traffic violations as contained in schedule of the law (violations-1-52)3." 

“Therefore the decision of the Federal High Court Abuja on VIO is inapplicable in Lagos State.”