A Federal High Court in Abuja has prohibited the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) from imposing fines on motorists who violate the Third Party Motor Vehicle Insurance Act. Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa ruled that neither the police nor the FRSC has the authority to levy penalties without a court order, delivering the judgment on Friday. The ruling came in a suit filed by lawyer Deji Adeyanju, who challenged the agencies' power to impose such fines. Before the judgment, the police, through counsel Andrew Victor, filed a Notice of Preliminary Objection challenging the court's jurisdiction, arguing it had not been properly served with the legal process. Justice Yilwa rejected the motion, stating that the court records show the police were served on multiple dates: April 3, May 21, November 14, November 17, January 28, and April 21. She noted that the police, as the first respondent, were fully aware of the suit but chose not to respond. The judge described the late motion as an attempt to delay the judgment and dismissed it. In her ruling, Justice Yilwa affirmed that while the police and FRSC are authorized to enforce the insurance law, they cannot impose fines or penalties independently.
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