Court Bars FRSC From Kano Township Roads
By Ahmad Tijjani Abdul
KANO — A Federal High Court sitting in Kano, on Thursday ruled that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) lacks the legal authority to operate on Kano State township roads, declaring that its routine stops, questioning and harassment of motorists on non-federal roads violate constitutional rights.
The landmark judgment was delivered on Thursday by Justice M. S. Shuaibu in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Kano-based lawyer, Abba Hikima, against the FRSC and its Kano State Command.
The suit challenged the legality of the Corps’ operations on state and local government roads within Kano metropolis.
The court declared that, in view of the current position of the law, the FRSC and its officers have no constitutional or statutory authority to stop, question or delay motorists on non-federal roads.
It held that the actions of FRSC personnel who stopped and interrogated the applicant on July 1 and 2, 2025, without any primary traffic offence or lawful justification, amounted to a violation of his fundamental right to personal liberty guaranteed under Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution.
Justice Shuaibu further held that the practice of mounting roadblocks on township roads to stop, interrogate, harass, delay or impound vehicles belonging to members of the public constitutes a breach of the rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement guaranteed under Sections 35 and 41 of the Constitution.
The court consequently granted a perpetual injunction restraining the FRSC, its officers, agents and privies from further stopping, harassing, interrogating or delaying the applicant or any other motorist on Kano State roads without lawful authority.
The court also ordered the FRSC to publish a public apology to the applicant in at least one national daily newspaper for what it described as the unlawful detention and harassment suffered by him.
In addition, the court awarded ₦800,000 as general damages and costs in favour of the applicant.
Reacting to the judgment, Hikima described the verdict as “a landmark victory for the rule of law,” saying it reaffirmed that law enforcement agencies must operate strictly within the limits of the Constitution and enabling statutes.
He said the decision was not a personal triumph but “a victory for every law-abiding motorist subjected to unlawful stops and harassment on roads where the FRSC has no legal jurisdiction.”