Court restrains police, FRSC from imposing fines on motorists over third-party insurance

 

The Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) from imposing fines on motorists found without valid third-party motor insurance, ruling that such sanctions cannot be enforced without a court order.

The judgment followed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/291/2025 filed by activist-lawyer Deji Adeyanju against the Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the FRSC.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Hauwa Yilwa held that while both the police and the FRSC are legally empowered to ensure compliance with compulsory third-party motor insurance, neither agency has the authority to impose fines or financial penalties on alleged offenders without judicial approval.

The court stressed that enforcement powers must be exercised strictly within the limits of the law and in accordance with due process, warning against administrative actions that could amount to unlawful punishment of motorists.

The ruling effectively bars both agencies from continuing roadside imposition of fines on drivers accused of failing to obtain valid third-party insurance, a practice that has generated controversy in recent years.

Third-party motor insurance is a statutory requirement in Nigeria designed to provide compensation for injury, death, or property damage caused to other road users in the event of an accident.

The case is part of broader legal scrutiny over how security and transport enforcement agencies implement traffic-related regulations across the country.