The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos has delivered judgment in favor of
the Federal Road Safety Commission, upholding the Commission’s legal powers to
set deadlines for motorists to change over to the new vehicle number plate and
drivers’ license.
This verdict is coming on the heels of an appeal filed by the Commission
against the judgment of the Federal High court in Lagos, in a case of Emmanuel
Ofoegbu vs FRSC on 26th March 2014. The Federal High court had in
the initial judgment, ruled that the Federal Road Safety Commission had no
statutory powers to fix deadline for motorists to switch over to the new
vehicle number plate and driver’s license.
However, in a verdict by the Court of Appeal in Lagos, delivered by
Justice Joseph Ike with Justices Ndukwe Anyanwu and Jamillah Tukur as members,
the Court of Appeal ruled as follows:
i.
Upheld the
validity of the National Road Traffic Regulations 2012
ii.
High
court Held that the validity of old number plate bought by the respondent,
Emeka Ofoegbu expired on 13th October, 2014, the deadline issued by
the FRSC.
iii.
Dissolved the
order of injunction by the Federal High court, restraining FRSC from setting
deadline for change over to the new number plates and observed that the 13th
October, 2014 deadline, had passed.
Reacting to the Appeal court’s verdict, the FRSC Corps Marshal and Chief
Executive, Boboye Oyeyemi expressed satisfaction about the judgement and
commended the Judiciary for not only providing a clear interpretation of the
existing laws on number plates and driver's licence but also validating the
statutory powers of the FRSC to deliver on its goals and expectations of
Nigerians on motor vehicle administration. He further enjoined motorists to
comply with the law while urging them to drive safely as the year winds to a
close.
Tags
Society