A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has ruled that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) lacks the statutory authority to carry out routine enforcement operations on roads under the control of the Kano State Government and local government councils.
Justice M. S. Shuaibu delivered the judgment in a fundamental rights suit instituted by Kano-based legal practitioner Abba Hikima, who challenged the legality of FRSC officials stopping and questioning motorists on township roads within the state.
In the judgment, the court held that the commission exceeded the powers conferred on it by law by conducting enforcement activities on roads outside its jurisdiction. The judge further ruled that the actions of the FRSC, in the circumstances of the case, infringed on the applicant’s constitutional rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement.
Consequently, the court issued a perpetual injunction, restraining FRSC personnel from stopping, harassing or interrogating motorists on Kano State and local government roads where the commission has no statutory mandate to operate.
Justice Shuaibu also directed the FRSC to publish a public apology to the applicant in a national newspaper and awarded ₦800,000 as damages and the cost of litigation for the violation of his fundamental rights.
The case stemmed from an incident in July 2025, when Abba Hikima alleged that FRSC officials intercepted and questioned him while he was driving on a township road in Kano. He argued that the officers acted outside the powers granted to the commission under its establishing law.
The ruling has renewed public debate over the scope of the FRSC’s enforcement powers and the constitutional responsibilities of federal and state authorities in road traffic administration.
Legal analysts say the judgment applies to the specific case before the Federal High Court in Kano and may be subject to appellate review if challenged by the commission.
As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Road Safety Corps had not issued an official response to the judgment. However, the commission has appealed similar decisions in the past, maintaining that its statutory responsibilities extend beyond federal highways.
The judgment is expected to generate further legal discussions on the extent of the FRSC’s operational powers and could influence future interpretations of the commission’s mandate if reviewed by a higher court.
