Court Bars FRSC From Penalizing Drivers Over Faded Number Plates

A Federal High Court in Lagos has ruled that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) cannot arrest drivers or impose fines for faded vehicle number plates.

Delivering the judgment on Friday, Justice Akintayo Aluko issued an order restraining the FRSC from penalizing or criminalizing the use of faded number plates, citing the agency’s responsibility as the sole designer and producer of such plates in Nigeria.

The case was brought before the court by legal practitioner Chinwike Chamberlain Ezebube, who filed the suit on February 13, 2024. Ezebube argued that the fading of number plates was due to substandard production by the FRSC, and it was unfair to penalize drivers for issues beyond their control.

Ezebube requested the court to:
Direct the FRSC to replace faded number plates at no additional cost beyond the initial issuance fee.
Prohibit the FRSC from declaring it an offence to drive with faded plates.
Stop the agency from imposing fines or taking punitive actions against affected drivers.

The FRSC, represented by its lawyer B.O. Nnamani, contested the suit and sought its dismissal, requesting punitive costs against the plaintiff.

Justice Aluko ruled that:
The FRSC cannot declare driving with faded number plates as an offence or impose fines and penalties without a court order.
While the agency is restricted from penalizing drivers, vehicle owners are still responsible for replacing faded number plates by paying the required fees.

The court also directed Ezebube to approach the FRSC for a replacement of his faded number plate, LSD905EQ, upon payment of the necessary charges.

This ruling reinforces accountability in public service while ensuring that drivers are not unfairly penalized for issues stemming from substandard production by the FRSC.