Impose New Driver’s Licence On Motorists --- Court Orders

 

An Abuja Federal High Court has delivered judgement on the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC's, plan to impose the new driver’s licence and vehicle particulars on motorists in Nigeria.
According to the ruling delivered today, the court restrained FRSC from imposing the new driver’s licence and vehicle particulars on motorists whose documents have yet to expire.
PMNEWS reports that the Federal High Court says the commission’s threat to begin to arrest and prosecute motorists who were yet to obtain the new driver’s licences and number plates is 'illegal and unconstitutional'.



It was gathered that Justice Adeniyi Ademola held that the FRSC lacked the constitutional power to compel vehicle owners to renew their vehicle particulars which had yet to expire.
Ademola also declared the commission’s planned enforcement of such a decision on vehicle owners in the country as “ultra vires, null and void”.

The judge also said that the plaintiff had the locus standi to do so and dismissed the FRSC’s counsel’s preliminary objection on the ground that it was a misconception in law.
John Musa, a lawyer who instituted the suit against the commission, sued FRSC over its threat to compel
motorists to obtain new vehicle licences even when it was still valid.
 

The plaintiff had joined the commission and its Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Osita Chidoka, as co-defendants in the suit.
It would also be recalled that a Lagos Federal High Court had on 26 March, declared that the new number plates introduced by FRSC were unconstitutional and could not be enforced.