The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has barred the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) from arresting or impounding privately owned vehicles that are not used for commercial purposes within its jurisdiction in Abuja.
The decision followed a lawsuit filed by an Abuja resident, Salimon Abdulhakeem Abiodun, who challenged what he described as unlawful actions by AMAC officials after his private vehicle was seized and multiple levies imposed on him.
Through his counsel, Qousim Opakunle, Abiodun instituted the suit against AMAC and its chairman, contesting the detention and confiscation of his vehicle and seeking judicial protection for private motorists operating strictly for non-commercial purposes within the council’s area.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, in Suit No. CV/1157/2025, Justice Y. Halilu ruled in favour of the claimant and issued a restraining order against the council.
“Consequently, judgment is hereby entered for the claimant against the defendants. An order of this honourable court is hereby made prohibiting the defendants, their agents, partners and subordinates from arresting the claimant’s vehicle or any other private vehicles not being used for commercial purposes while plying roads within the defendants’ territory,” the judge held.
The court further declared that the earlier seizure of Abiodun’s vehicle was unconstitutional and amounted to a violation of his fundamental rights.
“A declaration is hereby made that the arrest and confiscation of the claimant’s vehicle with chassis number 5TDZA23C75S264195 and private plate number KWL-63CE is unlawful, oppressive and a clear violation of the claimant’s fundamental right to own private property,” the judgment stated.
Justice Halilu also faulted the monetary charges imposed on the claimant, describing them as illegal and extortionate.
“A declaration is made that the forceful collection of N50,000 on January 11, 2023, N50,000 on February 8, 2024, and N20,000 on March 3, 2025, by the defendants from the claimant for mobile advert fees and daily and yearly ticketing fees is illegal, oppressive and amounts to extortion,” the court ruled.
The court consequently ordered AMAC to refund the total sum of N120,000 to the claimant and awarded him N2.5 million as general damages.
Abiodun had instituted the suit in March 2025, asking the court to interpret relevant AMAC bye-laws and to shield private vehicle owners from what he termed unlawful revenue enforcement measures by the council.
