The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has barred the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) from arresting private vehicles not used for any commercial purposes while plying Abuja roads within the AMAC territory.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/TheNigerialawyer-WhatsApp-Channel1.jpg")
In a suit filed by an Abuja resident, Salimon Abdulhakeem Abiodun, against the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and its chairman over the arrest and confiscation of his vehicle and other private vehicles not being used for any commercial purposes while plying Abuja roads within the territory of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, the court delivered judgment.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, in Suit No: CV/1157/2025, Justice Y. Halilu said, “Consequently, judgment is hereby entered for the claimant against the defendants as follows:
“An order of this Honourable Court prohibiting the defendants, their agents, partners, and subordinates from arresting the claimant’s vehicle or any other private vehicles not being used for any commercial purposes while plying Abuja roads within the territory of the defendants is hereby granted.
“Other orders granted by the court also include: ‘A declaration that the arrest and confiscation of the claimant’s car with chassis number 5TDZA23C75S264195 and registered with private plate number KWL-63CE is unlawful, oppressive, and a clear violation of the claimant’s fundamental right to own private property.
“‘A declaration that the forceful collection of the sum of N50,000 (fifty thousand naira only) on January 11, 2023; N50,000 (fifty thousand naira only) on February 8, 2024; and the sum of N20,000 (twenty thousand naira only) on March 3, 2025, from the claimant by the defendants for mobile advert fees and daily and yearly ticketing fees is illegal, oppressive, and amounts to extortion.’
“‘An order directing the defendants to refund with immediate effect the sum of N120,000 (one hundred and twenty thousand naira only), being the amount of money forcefully and unlawfully collected by the defendants from the claimant in the years 2023, 2024, and 2025 for mobile advert fees and daily and yearly ticketing fees.’”
The court also awarded general damages in the sum of N2.5 million in favour of the claimant.
It would be recalled that the Abuja resident, Salimon Abdulhakeem Abiodun, had in March last year sued the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and its chairman over the arrest and confiscation of his vehicle.
Among other things, he sought interpretation of the bye-laws of the Abuja Municipal Area Council.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR LAWYERS: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE
Reimagine your practice with the power of AI “...this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic.” — Ohio Books Ltd
Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe, Esq., ACIArb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director, Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.
Bonus:
Get a FREE eBook titled “How to Use the AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion” with every purchase.
How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌐 Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access directly online at: https://selar.com/prv626
________________________________________________________________________ The Law And Practice Of Redundancy In Nigeria: A Practitioner’s Guide, Authored By A Labour & Employment Law Expert Bimbo Atilola
_______________________________________________________________________
"You Don't Need To Be Rich, You Just Need To Start" — Victoria Ezeigwe, Esq Launches Investment Handbook For Nigerians Starting With ₦5,000
Get your copy today and take the first step toward financial growth:👉 https://selar.co/4f16676016
_______________________________________________________________________
