Court Affirms FRSC’s Authority to Seize Licences For Non-Compliant Plates, Declares Tampering with Number Plates Illegal

The Federal High Court in Lagos has reaffirmed the powers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to sanction motorists who flout traffic regulations, particularly those involving number plate standards.rnrnIn a statement issued Thursday in Abuja, Corps Public Education Officer Olusegun Ogungbemide disclosed that the judgment was delivered on June 23, 2025, by Justice Musa Kakaki in suit number FHC/L/CS/2367/2024, between Ojo Victor Olomi and the FRSC.rnrnrnThe court upheld both the fine imposed on Olomi and the confiscation of his driver’s licence, ruling that his act of hand-painting his vehicle’s number plate — making it non-reflective — breached the National Road Traffic Regulations, 2016. These regulations require reflective plates for visibility, law enforcement efficiency, and improved road safety.rnrnJustice Kakaki rejected claims that the seizure of the licence violated Olomi’s fundamental rights, clarifying that the matter was distinct from a previous ruling in Chinwike Ezebube v. FRSC. The judge stressed that hand-painted number plates remain a punishable offence under Nigerian law.rnrnOgungbemide hailed the decision as a “landmark judicial endorsement” of the FRSC’s mandate, noting that it strengthens the Corps’ authority in enforcing laws on vehicle identification and safety compliance.rnrnFRSC Corps Marshal Malam Shehu Mohammed urged motorists to avoid any actions that compromise safety or breach regulations, including altering or tampering with number plates. He also advised the public to disregard misleading interpretations of earlier court rulings, pointing to the fresh legal clarity this judgment provides.rnrn“The FRSC remains committed to creating a safer motoring environment and will continue to carry out its lawful duties with professionalism, integrity, and respect for the rights of all Nigerians,” Mohammed affirmed.