FRSC DENIES NULLIFICATION OF IT'S POWERS BY COURT


The Federal Road Safety Commission ( FRSC)on Monday has   refuted social media reports  that a Federal High Court in Lagos has nullified its  power to issue fines, tickets and impound offender vehicles.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, Mr Bisi Kazeem, the commission’s Public Relations Officer, said  FRSC was aware of the post  on social media questioning it's powers 2 punish traffic offenders.

``The truth is that there is no recent judgment of the FHC Lagos on the Tope Alabi case as is being circulated.

``What happened was that one Bar Tope Alabi challenged the powers of the FRSC to arrest him and impound his vehicle and make him pay fines for offences alleged.
``The FHC presided over by Justice Tsoho held that FRSC had no such powers. This was in Sept, 2014.

``However, in a case on all fours with the Tope Alabi case earlier in March, same year, 2014, same Justice Tsoho in the case of Bren Williams & Anor v FRSC.

``Held that FRSC had statutory powers to issue notice of offence, arrest, and detain vehicles suspected to have been used to commit traffic offences.’’

According to kazeem, on that same day Justice Tsoho delivered another judgment similar to the Tope Alabi case in Emmanuel Ofoegbu v FRSC.

He said  Justice Tsoho held that FRSC had no powers to set deadlines for motorists to change over to new number plates and that it would be ultra vires the powers of FRSC.

This he said was its power to arrest motorists for not using the new number plates under the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2012, a subsidiary legislation to the FRSC Act, 2007.

 He said the  decision was challenged on Appeal;The Court of Appeal held, inter alia, in Oct, 2014,

``That FRSC had statutory powers conferred by its enabling laws made pursuant to the Nigerian Constitution to regulate the use of number plates, design and set deadlines for change over to new ones.

``The September 2014 judgment of Justice Tsoho which has also been challenged on Appeal is the one currently being circulated on the social media by mischief makers.

``Note that in another case by the same Tope Alabi before same Justice Tsoho , the Federal High Court

`Taking a cue from the Court of Appeal’s decision in Emmanuel Ofoegbu's case,  held in FRSC's favour in June, 2015.

``For the avoidance of doubt, there are reported Court of Appeal decisions to the effect that FRSC has powers to arrest, issue notice of offence to suspected violators;

``And impound vehicles used to commit traffic offences and electing to pay the prescribed fines instead of challenging the notice of offence in court does not amount to usurpation of court powers."
Ading that "It is the voluntary decision of whoever decides to pay fines instead of challenging the notice of offence in court. ‘’ he said

He listed the cases as Ediru vs FRSC (2016) 4 NWLR. Pt 1502, pp209-247 and Esekhaigbe v FRSC, (2015) 12NWLR, Pt 1474 @ 520-537.

He said that the Court of Appeal’s decisions no doubt override whatever was decided in the Tope Alabi case, which is also being challenged on Appeal.

Email:cknnigeria@gmail.com
Twitter: @CKNNigeria
Facebook: CKNNigeria
CKN NEWS Hotline: 08080054001
Whatsapp: 08099677755
BBM : 2BE329DF
Website: www.cknnigeria.com

CKN NEWS

Chris Kehinde Nwandu is the Editor In Chief of CKNNEWS || He is a Law graduate and an Alumnus of Lagos State University, Lead City University Ibadan and Nigerian Institute Of Journalism || With over 2 decades practice in Journalism, PR and Advertising, he is a member of several Professional bodies within and outside Nigeria || Member: Institute Of Chartered Arbitrators ( UK ) || Member : Institute of Chartered Mediators And Conciliation || Member : Nigerian Institute Of Public Relations || Member : Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria || Fellow : Institute of Personality Development And Customer Relationship Management || Member and Chairman Board Of Trustees: Guild Of Professional Bloggers of Nigeria

Previous Post Next Post

نموذج الاتصال