Court Bars FRSC from Operating on Kano Township Roads, Awards Damages to Rights Lawyer.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu
Democracy Newsline Northern Bureau Chief
July 16, 2026.
KANO – A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has restrained the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) from operating on township roads within Kano State, ruling that the commission lacks the legal authority to enforce traffic regulations on state and local government roads.
Delivering judgment, Justice M. S. Shuaibu held that FRSC officials acted outside their statutory powers when they stopped, questioned, and delayed motorists on Kano township roads in July 2025. The court declared the actions unlawful and a violation of the constitutional rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement as guaranteed under Sections 35 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution.
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The suit was instituted by Kano-based human rights lawyer, Abba Hikima, who challenged the commission after he was stopped and interrogated by FRSC operatives despite allegedly committing no traffic offence. He argued that the commission’s legal mandate is limited to federal highways and does not extend to state or local government roads.
Justice Shuaibu granted all the reliefs sought by the applicant, including a perpetual injunction restraining FRSC officers from stopping, harassing, or delaying motorists on Kano township roads without lawful authority. The court also ordered the commission to publish a public apology in a national newspaper and awarded the applicant ₦800,000 as damages and litigation costs.
The judgment is regarded as a significant decision on the limits of federal agency powers and the protection of citizens’ constitutional rights. Legal observers believe the ruling could influence the scope of traffic law enforcement across other states where similar jurisdictional issues may arise.
The case originated in July 2025 after FRSC operatives mounted checkpoints across Kano metropolis, stopping motorists to demand driver’s licences and conduct routine checks. The court’s ruling has now clarified the extent of the commission’s authority within Kano State.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JULY 17TH 2026)
