Court Rules Against FRSC, Prohibits Impounding Vehicles with Faded Number Plates
The Federal High Court in Lagos has issued an order preventing the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) from impounding vehicles with faded number plates or imposing penalties on their owners.
In a ruling delivered on January 17, 2025, Justice Akintayo Aluko addressed a lawsuit filed by lawyer Chinwike Ezebube against the FRSC. Ezebube argued that as the sole producer and designer of vehicle number plates in Nigeria, the FRSC should be held responsible for the durability of the plates. Consequently, he contended, the FRSC had no right to penalize vehicle owners for issues arising from the quality of the plates.
Justice Aluko sided with Ezebube, stating that the FRSC could not criminalize the use of faded number plates. The judge emphasized that while the FRSC could not fine or impound vehicles for faded plates, vehicle owners still had the responsibility to request a replacement after paying the applicable fees.
The court also ruled that the FRSC had no legal authority to impose fines or seize vehicles over faded number plates without a court order. The FRSC was further prohibited from declaring it an offense to drive with faded number plates.
In his suit, Ezebube had sought clarification on whether the FRSC, as the exclusive designer and producer of vehicle number plates in Nigeria, was responsible for their quality and durability. He also questioned whether the FRSC had the right to penalize individuals for driving vehicles with faded plates due to subpar production.
The FRSC’s legal representative, B.O. Nnamani, opposed the lawsuit, urging the court to dismiss it. However, the court ruled in favor of the plaintiff.
The court’s decision marks a significant shift in the handling of vehicle number plate issues in Nigeria, placing responsibility for their quality squarely
on the FRSC.
