FRSC To Appeal Judgement On Vehicle Number Plate

The Federal Road Safety Commission yesterday in Abuja, said it would appeal against the verdict of the Federal High Court in Lagos, that the new number plates introduced by the commission were unconstitutional and as such could not be imposed on vehicle owners.
In a statement, issued by the FRSC Public Education Officer, Mr Jonas Agwu, in Abuja, yesterday said it did not set the deadline for the use of the new number plate but the states, through their Joint Tax Board, fixed the deadline.
The court, presided over by Justice James Tsoho, had declared that the new number plates introduced by the commission were unconstitutional and as such could not be imposed on vehicle owners.
“The issue of redesigning new number plates by the respondent is not covered under the provision of any law in Nigeria. The respondent cannot force Nigerians to acquire the new number plates by impounding cars without the backing of any legislation to that effect,” the judge said.
Agwu, however, said that the court only ruled that the commission lacked statutory authority to fix a deadline for the enforcement of the use of the new number plate.
It said it would appeal the verdict of the court.
“Justice Tsoho ruled that the FRSC has powers to design and produce the number plate as a national policy. The judge cautioned that the statutory powers of the FRSC does not cover setting deadlines for conversion to the newly designed plates,” the statement quoted Agwu as saying.
The Joint Board had set June 30 as deadline for vehicle owners to change the old number plate to the new number plate or have their vehicles impounded.