By
Confidence Aribibia
After my earlier post on the Court of Appeal’s decision against VIO many people have been asking whether the judgment applies only in Abuja or in every state.
Let’s clear the air with the precision the law deserves
Nigeria has only ONE Court of Appeal. What we have in different states are merely divisions, not separate courts for administrative convenience. So when the Court of Appeal speaks no matter the division its decision is binding nationwide unless the Supreme Court reverses it.
This is why the new judgment on the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) has shaken the table across Nigeria.
In that case, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, held that VIO officers have no legal power to penforce traffic laws on the road. This means:
🥢 They cannot arrest you on the road for traffic offences
🥢They cannot impound vehicles on the highway
🥢 They cannot mount roadblocks to demand papers
Their lawful mandate is limited to vehicle inspection, roadworthiness tests, and certification nothing more. The court didn’t stop there. It awarded ₦1 million against the VIO for acting outside their powers. That alone tells you how seriously the court views this overreach.
So, for those asking whether this affects Lagos, Rivers, Kano, Enugu, Kaduna, or any other state, the answer is simple. Yes, it does. The decision of the Court of Appeal binds the entire country.
In practical terms, remember this VIO is for inspection, not enforcement and now, the law has spoken loud enough for everyone to hear.
CONFIDENCE ARIBIBIA IS A LAWYER
