The Director, Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) of Ekiti State, Engr. Olawale Ayegbusi, has clarified that the recent High Court ruling, which restrained the commission from impounding, confiscating or imposing fines on any motorist, does not apply to Ekiti State.
Speaking with journalists on Monday in Ado-Ekiti, Engr. Ayegbusi stated that the court order is only applicable to officers operating within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
He emphasized that the matter is a residual issue which is only specific to the FCT and does not extend to all states across the country.
His words: “Road traffic law is a residual matter under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We have a concurrent, exclusive list and residual matters. The residual matter is a state issue.
“It concerns only the state and motor vehicle administration falls under this category, giving each state the power to legislate its own laws. The judgement from the federal high court applies solely to the Federal Capital Territory, not to every state.
“Ekiti State has its own laws and they remain intact. This means the VIO in Ekiti is not barred from carrying out its duties, including conducting patrols and impounding vehicles, as it is our constitutional right. The court ruling pertains only to federal capital law, not Ekiti law.”
Engr. Ayegbusi assured residents of Ekiti that his officers would continue to uphold professionalism and work diligently to reduce road crashes in the state.
He also called on the public to adhere to traffic rules and cooperate with officers to ensure safer roads.
“We are professionals and trained officers, and we assure the people of Ekiti that we will work tirelessly to minimize road crashes.
Removing VIO from the roads would negatively affect traffic safety. VIO have played a vital role in helping drivers identify faults in their vehicles, which they may not have been aware of.
“We urge the public to see the VIO as their friends and feel free to raise any concerns at our office”.
