Court restrains FRSC from enforcing traffic rules on Kano State roads

A Federal High Court in Kano has ruled that officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have no legal authority to carry out enforcement on state and local government roads in Kano.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice M. S. Shuaibu held that the commission acted outside its powers when its officers stopped, questioned and delayed motorists on township roads in July 2025.

The case was filed by Kano lawyer Abba Hikima, who challenged the actions of FRSC officers after they stopped him and other motorists to request driving licences despite no traffic offence having been committed.

The judge held that the officers’ actions violated the constitutional rights of motorists to personal liberty and freedom of movement.

The court granted the lawyer’s requests, including an order permanently restraining FRSC officials from stopping or harassing motorists on Kano State roads without legal authority.

The court also directed the commission to publish a public apology in a national newspaper and awarded Hikima N800,000 in damages and legal costs.

Hikima had argued that the FRSC’s powers are limited to federal highways and do not extend to roads managed by state or local governments.