New FRSC Number Plates Declared Illegal By Court

Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC new number plates has been ruled unconstitutional by a Federal High Court in Lagos today.

The case was filed by one Emmanuel Ofoegbu, a lawyer against the Federal Road Safety Commission, who deemed the new plates as unlawful.

He argued that the commision can't impose the new plates on the Nation's populace, when no existing law permitted it.

The Judge James Tsoho said:The issue of redesigning new number plates by the respondent, is not covered under the provisions of any law in Nigeria,” , “The respondent (FRSC) cannot force Nigerians to acquire new plate numbers by impounding cars, without the backing of any legislation to that effect.

“I hold that the act of the respondent amounts to an arbitrary use of power, and is therefore illegal and unconstitutional. “Judgment is therefore entered in favour of the plaintiff, and all the reliefs sought is hereby granted, I so hold,” the judge added.

The suit was filed on September 30, 2013 for human activist, Ogedi Ogu, who challenged the FRSC's power to take cars of owners who didn't get the new plates.