I have often mentioned in arguments with friends that revenue collection organisations such as LATMA, VIO have no rights to impose fines on motorist and drivers accused of breaking traffic law. Now the courts recently confirmed that as reported by the Punch Newspaper.
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday awarded N200,000 as damages against the the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority for unlawfully impounding a vehicle belonging to Mr. Kameos Omosivwe and imposing fine on him.
Justice Okon Abang gave this order while delivering judgment on a suit filed by Omosivwe, challenging the seizure of his vehicle for several months and imposition of fine on him by LASTMA officials.
Abang, in his judgment, held that the action of LASTMA was a violation of an earlier order of the court, which nullified the power of the traffic authority to impose fines on traffic offenders.
He therefore held that Omosivwe was at liberty to initiate contempt proceedings against the LASTMA official involved in impounding the applicant’s vehicle, Mr. Adewumi Adeosun, for flouting the earlier court order.
Source: Punch
