The Federal High Court sitting in Kano State has ruled that the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has no legal authority to operate on state and local government roads.
It declared FRSC activities on township roads within Kano metropolis unlawful and a violation of citizens' fundamental rights.
In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice M S Shuaibu held that FRSC officials acted outside the powers conferred on them by law when they stopped, questioned and delayed motorists on township roads in Kano in July 2025.
The case was brought by Kano-based lawyer Abba Hikima, who challenged the legality of the commission's operations after he was stopped by FRSC operatives on a township road despite having allegedly committed no traffic offence.
Justice Shuaibu ruled that the actions of the FRSC officers violated the applicant's constitutional rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement, as guaranteed under Sections 35 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
The court granted all the principal reliefs sought by Hikima including a perpetual injunction restraining the FRSC, its officers, agents and representatives from stopping, harassing, questioning or delaying motorists on Kano State roads without lawful authority.
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The commission was also ordered to publish a public apology to the applicant in a national newspaper for violating his constitutional rights.
In addition, the court awarded N800,000 in damages and costs against the FRSC in favour of the applicant.
Earlier in July 2025, the legal dispute arose when FRSC operatives mounted checkpoints on township roads across Kano metropolis and stopped motorists to demand driver's licences and subject them to questioning, even in the absence of any alleged primary traffic offence.
Hikima, who was among those stopped, approached the court arguing that the commission's statutory powers are limited to federal highways and do not extend to roads under the control of state or local governments.
The court agreed, holding that the commission had exceeded its lawful jurisdiction by conducting enforcement activities on township roads within Kano State.
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