The Lagos State Government has distanced itself from the Federal High Court judgment in Abuja barring the Directorate of Vehicle Inspection Office ( VIO) from stopping and impounding vehicles.
A statement on Tuesday by the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, disclosed that the ruling does not affect VIO Lagos directorate operations.
Osiyemi explained that it was important to note that in law a court has limits of its territorial jurisdiction and in this case, the judgment was restricted to Abuja.
“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.
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“This is with the penalties or fines that can be imposed for traffic violations as contained in the schedule of the law (violations-1-52).
“Therefore, the decision of the Federal High Court Abuja on VIO is inapplicable in Lagos State,” he stated.
The commissioner advised motorists in Lagos State to continue to be law-abiding, uphold the Transport Sector Reform Law, and respect the VIO.
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