Court Bars FRSC From Arresting Vehicles, Penalizing Drivers Over Faded Number Plates

A Federal High Court in Lagos has barred the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) from arresting or penalizing drivers for using faded number plates. The ruling was delivered by Justice Akintayo Aluko in response to a lawsuit filed by legal practitioner Chinwike Chamberlain Ezebube against the FRSC.

Ezebube, in his suit filed on February 13, 2024, argued that since the FRSC is solely responsible for designing and producing vehicle number plates in Nigeria, it should also be accountable for their quality and durability. He questioned whether the FRSC could lawfully penalize motorists for using faded number plates caused by poor production quality. Additionally, he sought a declaration that the agency should replace faded number plates at no extra cost to vehicle owners.

The FRSC, through its lawyer B.O. Nnamani, opposed the suit and urged the court to dismiss it with punitive costs. However, the court ruled in favor of the plaintiff, holding that the FRSC cannot criminalize the use of faded number plates or impose fines without a court order.

Justice Aluko further stated that while drivers must request a replacement for faded plates, they are required to pay the necessary fees. The court issued a binding order preventing the FRSC from declaring the use of faded plates an offence or penalizing motorists for it. It also directed Ezebube to apply for a replacement of his faded number plate, which the FRSC must provide upon payment of the standard fee.