In Ikeja High Court has ordered Oshodi Local Government Area (LGA) of Lagos to pay One Million Naira compensation to a motorist, Mr Louis Idahosa for extorting him of N28,000 for allegedly driving against traffic (one-way).
Delivering judgment, Justice Obafemi Adamson said that local governments lack the constitutional power to impound vehicles and to inflict traffic related penalties on road users.
The judge said that threatening, harassing and extorting N28,000 from Idahosa by Oshodi LGA officials and impounding his vehicle under the guise that he drove “one-way” was illegal.
Justice Adamson noted that the applicant’s fundamental human rights as enshrined in Sections 34, 36, 41(1) and 44 the 1999 Constitution was breached by Oshodi LGA.
The judge ordered the Local Government to refund Idahosa of his N28,000 and gave an injunction restraining all Local Government and LCDA from harassing road users.
Olaoluwa Adekunle
