A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the court bars FRSC fines and police penalties on motorists over third-party insurance violations.
The judgment was delivered on Friday by Justice Hauwa Yilwa in a suit filed by activist and lawyer Deji Adeyanju.
Case Background
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/291/2025, listed the Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) as defendants.
Adeyanju approached the court to determine whether law enforcement agencies have the legal authority to impose fines on motorists under the Motor Vehicles Third Party Insurance Act.
Court Ruling
Justice Yilwa held that the court bars FRSC fines and police sanctions without court involvement.
According to the ruling, both the Nigeria Police Force and the FRSC can stop vehicles and verify insurance compliance.
However, they do not have the legal power to impose fines directly on motorists.
Counsel to the applicant, Marvin Omorogbe, confirmed the position after the judgment.
“The police and road safety can enforce compliance but do not have the power to impose fines on motorists,” he said.
Reactions From Parties
Adeyanju described the ruling as a victory for Nigerians.
He said the case was filed to stop what he called arbitrary fines on motorists.
“The aim was to clarify that law enforcement agencies do not have the right to impose fines over vehicle insurance, and the court has confirmed this,” he said.
Defendants React
Counsel to the defendants, Victor Okoye, said the judgment was only partly favourable.
He argued that the suit was improperly filed and raised concerns about the parties involved.
Okoye added that they may challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
What It Means for Motorists
The ruling means the court bars FRSC fines and police penalties unless ordered by a court.
This decision provides clarity for motorists and may affect how enforcement is carried out on Nigerian roads.
The case may still proceed to the Court of Appeal, but for now, the ruling remains in effect.
