COURT OF APPEAL RULES FRSC CAN’T SEIZE DRIVERS’ LICENSES, VEHICLES WITHOUT JUSTIFICATION

The Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri, Imo State, has ruled that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) lacks the legal authority to seize drivers’ licences, vehicles, or related documents without lawful justification. The judgment was given in an appeal filed by the FRSC, the Corps Marshal, and an officer identified by Uniform No. COSS 35, against Dr. Emmanuel Ugochukwu Shebbs.

In a unanimous judgment, the appellate court upheld the judgment of the High Court of Abia State, which had earlier ruled that such seizures amounted to a violation of fundamental human rights. The court affirmed the FRSC’s liability for rights violations but reduced the damages awarded to Shebbs from N30 million to N10 million, covering general and exemplary damages.

The case stemmed from an incident in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown, when FRSC officers stopped Shebbs along Bende Road in Umuahia. The court held that the FRSC’s actions were unlawful and violated Shebbs’ fundamental human rights. The judgment marks a significant victory for citizens’ rights and limits the FRSC’s powers to seize property without justification.