A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has restrained the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) from arresting a lawyer, Chinwike Chamberlain Ezebube for the use of a faded number plate pending the conclusion and determination of the originating application of the applicant.
Ezebube had sued the FRSC for harassing him for using a faded number plate and challenged the Commission on for making the use of a faded number plate an offence.
In the suit, he prayed the court to direct the respondent (FRSC) and any of its proxies or those acting under its instructions to maintain the status quo ante bellum, pending the conclusion and determination of the originating application.
The lawyer prayed the court to direct the respondent (FRSC) and any of its proxies or those taking directives from it to desist from arresting, fining or issuing any form of threat of arrest, impounding of a vehicle with number plate LSD905EQ or any other vehicle of his or demanding him to pay for and be issued a new vehicle number plate for reasons of faded vehicle plate or any threat of arrest or prosecution, until the conclusion and determination of his application pending before the court.
He also prayed the court to order and restrain the respondents from engaging in any act or omission, which will either impact adversely on him in any way or prejudice the hearing, determination and conclusion of the application pending before the court.
The trial judge, Akintayo Aluko, consequently ordered FRSC to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice and adjourned to April 22, 2024 for a hearing.
