By Editor
The Federal High Court sitting in Kano has ruled that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has no legal authority to operate on state and local government roads in the state.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice M. S. Shuaibu declared that FRSC’s mounting of checkpoints and stopping of motorists on township roads in Kano in July 2025 was unlawful and unconstitutional.
The suit was filed by Kano-based lawyer, Abba Hikima, who challenged the Corps’ action after its operatives stopped him to demand his driver’s licence despite committing no traffic offence.
Hikima argued that the FRSC Act only empowers the Corps to enforce traffic regulations on federal highways, and not on roads managed by state and local governments.
In his ruling, Justice Shuaibu held that the FRSC’s conduct violated the applicant’s fundamental rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement as guaranteed under Sections 35 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution.
The court granted all the reliefs sought by the applicant. It issued a perpetual injunction restraining FRSC and its officials from harassing or stopping motorists on Kano state and local government roads.
Justice Shuaibu also ordered the Corps to publish a public apology in a national newspaper, acknowledging that its actions on Kano township roads were illegal.
In addition, the court awarded N800,000 in damages and costs against the FRSC in favor of the applicant as compensation for the violation of his rights.
Legal experts say the judgment is expected to redefine the operational boundaries of the FRSC nationwide and reinforce the limits of federal agencies on state-controlled roads. The FRSC is yet to react to the ruling as of press time.
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