A Federal High Court in Lagos has issued an injunction restraining the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) from arresting vehicles with faded number plates.
Justice Akintayo Aluko made the ruling on Friday, also prohibiting the FRSC from imposing fines or penalties on drivers with faded vehicle plates.
The case was filed by legal practitioner Chinwike Chamberlain Ezebube, who challenged the FRSC’s authority to penalise drivers for faded number plates.
In his suit, filed on February 13, 2024, Ezebube argued that the FRSC, as the sole designer and producer of vehicle number plates in Nigeria, was responsible for the quality and durability of the plates.
He questioned whether the FRSC could legally penalise drivers for faded plates resulting from poor manufacturing.
Ezebube sought several declarations from the court, including the restriction of the FRSC from declaring the use of faded vehicle plates an offence and from imposing any fines.
He also requested that the FRSC be ordered to replace faded plates at no extra cost to affected individuals.
The FRSC, represented by lawyer B.O. Nnamani, countered the suit and urged the court to dismiss it with punitive costs.
However, Justice Aluko ruled in favour of Ezebube, stating that the FRSC could not criminalise the use of faded number plates.
The judge clarified that while the use of faded plates could not be penalised, drivers should seek replacement plates from the FRSC upon payment of the necessary fees.
The court ordered that the FRSC refrain from declaring it an offence to drive with a faded vehicle number plate or imposing fines for such an offence.
It further directed that Ezebube’s vehicle plate, LSD905EQ, be replaced by the FRSC upon the payment of the required fees.
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