Premium Times reports
Delivering judgment in a suit filed by Emmanuel Ofoegbu, a lawyer, against the FRSC, the judge said that it was unlawful for the commission to impose the new number plates on Nigerians, where no existing law permitted it.
“The issue of redesigning new number plates by the respondent, is not covered under the provisions of any law in Nigeria,” said James Tsoho, the judge.“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.
Mr. Ofoegbu filed the suit on September 30, 2013, through a Human Rights Activists, Ogedi Ogu, challenging the power of the FRSC to impound vehicles of motorists who failed to acquire the new numbers.
Mr. Ofoegbu had sought a declaration that the threat by the FRSC to impound vehicles of motorists, who failed to acquire the new number plates, was invalid and unconstitutional.
In his statement of facts, the plaintiff averred that the old plate numbers were issued under the provisions of the National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR) 2004.
He averred that the NRTR 2004, is a subsidiary legislation made under the FRSC Act, Laws of the Federation as revised in 2004.
According to the plaintiff, the NRTR 2012, in Regulations 230 (2), provides that “the revocation of the 2004 Regulations, shall not affect anything done, or purported to be done pursuant to that Regulation”
Mr. Ofoegbu stated that there is no law made in accordance with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which prohibits the use of the old plate numbers, or declares its use as an offence.
Nigeria #bright bravo#
ReplyDeleteDoes the Lagos High Court exercise jurisdiction over this matter? Nice judgement though but I see ds matter going to the supreme court eventually. Well, till den, no need to change my plate number. Hehe!
DeleteTo be candid, FRSC makes a whole lot of revenue from Drivers license and number plate, they are simply insatiable, why change an existing number when there is nothing wrong with it. Will the new number stop the issue of Car theft?
DeleteGud
ReplyDeleteTym to put an end to deir scam
isn't dat ur plate number linda? Looking at the LND and AA
DeleteAnd the FRSC will appeal......we dey watch the movie
ReplyDeleteNIIIIIICE.
ReplyDeleteIs it possible to institute a class action in court for compensation to those of us who have obtained the illegal license? May God save us from these wicked people in power.
ReplyDeleteYes it is possible, and thanks for raising tthe point, it should be done
DeleteI swear naija wicked die..... Look at the price they tag on ordinary plate self......
ReplyDelete.
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***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***
Is gud to see we still have some gud citizen standing for others....... Totally misuse of power, jonah should come and start sacking some people abeg......
ReplyDelete.
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***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***
must u comment on every post??Bonario's counterpart. U sha wan collect 100k dz year.#smh#..some peepz re startn to piss me off..oshisko
DeleteStop making a fool of urself for 100k. Stupid razz thing!
Delete...and for fuck sakes, his comments are all thrash talks...
DeleteI am so happy I held my ground not to get the new plate number. As in, what for? Why do we have to keep contributing billions of (now dollars no longer Naira) for them to steal? This new plate number idea is seriously uncalled for.
ReplyDeleteWho is fooling who?
ReplyDelete(Corper Godstime)
You, which one is Corper Godstime again? Its people like you that wear nysc attire to church.
DeleteThis is a confirmation of Government stealing from the people.
ReplyDeleteWhen pple don rush go change am? Why now
ReplyDeleteGood news!
ReplyDeleteOld and new should go side by side,but not phasing it out entirely just like dat.
ReplyDeleteSo 80% of vehicles in Nigeria re using number plates not sanctioned by the law, smh. How tins roll in naija
ReplyDeleteI love dis case I swear .shame on frsc!!! SIGH!!!
ReplyDeleteWow! Late Good News. ⌣̊┈̥-̶̯͡»̶̥♡thanks ⌣̊┈̥-̶̯͡»̶̥
ReplyDeleteNigeria can be stupid at times! These new plates number what separates it from the old ones is just the Nigeria map! That's all!!! And they want to force it down people's throat. God bless the lawyer who contested this.
ReplyDeleteFantastic. Nigerian government should stop imposing hardship on us. People cant afford 3 square meal yet you are asking us to pay about 35k for new plate numbers. Another way of generating revenue for this useless government. We say NO to new plate numbers. Awon ole jatijati.
ReplyDeleteGhen ghen,
ReplyDeleteFRSC thief of life. Shame on GEJ. Cant he say NO to some stupid things. If you impound my car, God will impound your health. I no get shishi to change any silly plate number. Frsc will go and appeal. Thieves .
ReplyDeleteThat is intoxication of power and stealing from the masses. What a shame for Chidoka and co. A lot of our Nigerian leaders are possessed by the spirit of avarice. Tufiakwa!!!
ReplyDeleteThis ιƨ misuse of power. Smh!
ReplyDeleteNa my head catch that FRSC boss. You didn't give me contract, this is your fate #yimu
ReplyDeleteAfte they've made Millions of naira from that? Seriously? well i'll say its another way of embezzeling The Nigerians. Lol
ReplyDelete#NigeriaIsCurrupt 'no be today'
#Check!
When someone wants to amass wealth from the gullible Nigerians they come up with all sorts of rules and rob innocent citizens of their hard earned money! They impound cars, they threaten you and even put a deadline for acquiring it. Is it a crime to drive a car in Nigeria? The make things so difficult for people. Esp this FRSC people. The old plate numbers should work side by side with the new ones. At least if you are buying new cars you make use of the new ones but not to mandate everyone on getting the new ones. God please help us all. I don't even have that 35k to dash Frsc for any new one oh. Make dem leave me to de drive with my old one otherwise I go carry them enter court room and they will end up paying for the new one sef.
ReplyDeleteThey just turned the numbers the other way round and called them new plate numbers. Naija we hail thee!
ReplyDeleteGood to hear.
ReplyDeleteThis is shameful, many people have been harrased and humiliated as a result of this illegal plate number imposed by the fed govt. Jonathan pls cover your eyes don't you seek advice before things are implemented?
ReplyDeleteNaija wil always b naija......dem no c am since?rubbish pple
ReplyDeleteJust passing
ReplyDeleteHmmmmmmm.
ReplyDeletewhich way Nigeria? even our useless nation assembly was not aware of the fact that their is no law backing the number plate. The frsc should just return my old number plate. Nonsense.
ReplyDeletedoes this mean i can drive around with old license plate come June 30?..
ReplyDeleteWen pepo don buy change finish...y didnt dey check d constitution since b4 forcin pepo 2 change?
ReplyDeleteGud Ƒσя them stpid pple
ReplyDeleteIllegal???
ReplyDeleteThngs like dis make me feel we are moving forward,albeit at a snail pace. For d info of frsc,milktary and oda govt bodies,we are in a democracy,warped,but democracy nonetheless. Thank u barrister ofeagbu,oda lawyers shd pls follow suit.
ReplyDeleteChanging number plates can't change anything in Nigeria. What is the point? Still Nigeria police or the frsc doesn't even have a complete data base of all vehicles in that country. Here in the Uk, number plate of a car can tell much about the owner of that car. I still wander why my country is lacking so much behind on development. And the major problem is that ordinary citizens out there doesn't know that they are living far below a normal life.our leaders always come here,I know some of the house they bought with heavy millions of Naira. I will start crying if I continue... I rest my case for now.
ReplyDeleteMany things we call evil in Nigeria are actually not evil...for example, our road accidents almost on a minute bases.. People will say it's the work of the devil...I laugh most times. How can it be the devil while 1.the road is a death trap. 2.the vehicle is about 10-20 years old 3.the driver is either drunk or on hard or prescribed drugs.4.Nigerian drivers dose not have a formal driving training. 5.overloaded vehicles 6.worn out tires.7.very poor car maintainance. 8. Over speeding. 9.no strict rules. 10.no standard MOT check. Am tired of counting.. When I was in Lagos ,I thought I was one of the best drivers in the world. But when I came over here I unfortunately found out that my experience in Lagos has made me the worst driver on earth. All those thing I called driving in lagos was actually rubbish. It took me 5years to get my driving license after failing like 5 times. I rest my case again........Nigerians should think twice when they want to blame devil on things like that.... See ya.
ReplyDeleteNa the same people!!
ReplyDeleteI love this.........enough of this open day rubbery. Kudos
ReplyDeleteAfter we don buy am ni...
ReplyDelete~D great anonymous!
We nigerian self hmmm ℓ̊ tire Oº°˚˚˚° ℓ̊ like this judgement but this Į̸̸̨§ where we missed it all even the judge that gave the judgment self Į̸̸̨§ using the new plate number because they Ħª√ę change plate number of govt official especially lagos where we D̶̲̥̅̊ε̲̣̣̣̥γ̲̣̣̥. The ssecond one Į̸̸̨§ the the price been place on this plate number Į̸̸̨§ N̤̥̈̊ø̲̣̣̥t FRSC but the state internal revenue determine their price anyone can compare the price of other state †̥ lagos own ƔoU̶̲̥̅̊ will see that lagos state has. Higher price †̥ others why? Linda job welldone fO̶̷̩̥̊͡Я this info
ReplyDeleteWe haven't heard the last of this issue cos the FRSC would appeal!
ReplyDeleteEven the new drivers lin shuld be declared illegal this guyz are jus thieves after two yrs de will still find reason to change both plate number and D/L jus to enrich them selves mennn this country is killing mio, am out
ReplyDeleteNa wa. So those of us that have the new plate number how we go do? I die well.
ReplyDeleteSee what fear has caused Nigerians.....all u all do is talk, express ur fears or inept strengths on social media....I dare u all to challenge and FRSC official on the high-way......
ReplyDeleteBut no! Na ontop keyboard and computer devices or mobile fones una go fit get mouth....
#shame on u all
Actually....it is simply ignorance of the law and our rights that causes us to recoil in fear. There are times I have challenged stupid policemen with the law and they are stunned and start stuttering....and if they see u stand your ground, they consider you a time waster. Me, I just recline my chair and tell them to do what they want to do. After they start trying to joke asking...ah ah madam you be lawyer? Why u dey do strong head laik dis na?" Yes. The risk is that you might encounter one very mad hungry one that God-forbid may cock his gun but for us to move ahead and change the human rights abuses these are the risks we have to take. If I did something wrong, by all means pull me over...but if there is clearly nothing and u just want to extract money from me? MBA! Ain't happenin' cap'n!
Delete9ja will be better one day....I Believe!
ReplyDeleteImagineeee! Nonsense, where were they wen nigerians were asked to change dier number plate, after spending soo much, una say it's illegal! Who is dis frsc Oga sef!...... sugardelux!
ReplyDeleteThis country, the money we waste every three months on irrelevant issues is enough to create employment for 10,000 youths.
ReplyDeleteGood news #NewsBlist
ReplyDeleteI wish dat mr ofoegbu will win them cos that's imposition FRSC abeg mk una chill oh the guy was right
ReplyDeleteWhich way Nigeria?. Today this, tomorrow that! God pass all of una wey dey cheat poor citizens. One day u will all give God account ooo.
ReplyDeleteNawa ooooo Naija when we go change
ReplyDeleteBut its kinda too late.. Almost everyone has rushed to get the new one.
ReplyDeleteMay God bring an end to people that wont let the masses rest in Nigeria....were they ever confused? no.....they just wanted to milk the little the masses have.
ReplyDeleteTheir punishment will know no end. Amen!
This is great news! At least we have some sane and fearless judges who would say it as it is.
ReplyDeleteI know the FRSC will appeal and the matter will go to a higher court. I just hope no one or group at that level shared in the revenue from sale of new licenses.
God Bless Nigeria!
This is great news! At least we have some sane and fearless judges who would say it as it is.
ReplyDeleteI know the FRSC will appeal and the matter will go to a higher court. I just hope no one or group at that level shared in the revenue from sale of new licenses.
God Bless Nigeria!
*going to wash my dad's old 504* finally free car to use. Nigerian's are learning to stand up for themselves. Its about time.
ReplyDeletethis is nona rosa reporting live!!!!!
ReplyDeleteToo bad nijia
ReplyDeleteLinda that's your number plate there.. lol
ReplyDeleteNa wa o
ReplyDeleteMay the LORD reward this LAWYER abundantly..bunch of crooks.
ReplyDeleteWahala
ReplyDeleteCourt did not declare the new plates illegal/unlawful. It's their imposition on people that has been declared illegal/unlawful. Hence it is no longer an offence not to have the plates.
ReplyDeleteCourt to FRSC: You can’t impose new number plates
ReplyDeleteBy Wole Oye / March 27, 2014
Justice James Tsoho of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Wednesday ruled that the Federal Road Safety Commission cannot impose new number plates on motorists.
The ruling was sequel to a suit filed by Emmanuel Ofoegbu in September 2013, challenging the powers of the FRSC to issue new number plates. Ofoegbu, through his lawyer, Ogedi Ogu, had sought a declaration that the threat by the respondents to impound vehicles of motorists who failed to acquire the new number plates was unconstitutional. The plaintiff, among others, averred that there was no law made in accordance with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which prohibits the use of the old plate numbers or declares its use as an offence.
Therefore, he prayed the court to declare the threat by the respondent to arrest motorists using the old number plates unlawful. According to the Judge, it was unconstitutional for the respondent to impose the new number plates. Tsoho ruled: “The issue of redesigning new number plates by the respondent is not covered under the provisions of any law in Nigeria.
“The respondent cannot force Nigerians to acquire new number plates 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 are hereby granted.
“I so hold.”
Na today? the rich getting richer just enriching themselves from the the poor. Naija for show.
ReplyDeleteAfter they chopped our money
ReplyDeleteThese courts are too slow and Chidoka and his team will vomit it somehow in life...
This is good news..... I think the judiciary is what will fix this country called Nigeria.....
ReplyDeletednt let us celebrate yet.coz frsc will cum back wit anoda twist.u pple shd watch out.yeye govt.all dere policies is 2 milk d common man dry.
ReplyDeleteWhy is court slow to delivere the judgement
ReplyDelete