DAILY MENTOR, July 28, 2025 - The Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri, Imo State, has ruled decisively that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) does not have the legal authority to seize drivers’ licences, vehicles, or related documents without lawful justification. This landmark judgment came in Appeal No: CA/OW/199/2022 involving the FRSC and Dr. Emmanuel Ugochukwu Shebbs.
The appellate court upheld a previous High Court ruling from Abia State, which found that such seizures by FRSC officers amount to a violation of fundamental human rights. Justices Amina Audi Wambai, M. Lawal Abubakar, and Ntong F. Ntong delivered a unanimous judgment that affirmed the illegal nature of the FRSC’s actions in this regard. However, the court reduced the awarded damages from ₦30 million to ₦10 million for general and exemplary damages.
The case originated in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown when FRSC officials stopped Dr. Shebbs along Bende Road, Umuahia. Despite finding no fault with his vehicle, FRSC officers demanded a bribe and, after he refused, seized his driver’s licence alleging a worn-out tyre and issued a ₦3,000 fine. Dr. Shebbs took legal action citing the unlawful seizure and ensuing violation of his rights.
In response, FRSC has publicly stated that its officers are not authorised to seize vehicle documents and that a driver’s licence belongs to the Federal Government and not to the individual directly, underscoring that confiscating such documents without due process is unlawful.
This appellate court decision strengthens protections for motorists against illegal confiscation of documents by FRSC officials and calls for strict adherence to legal procedures in the enforcement of traffic regulations.
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