A federal high court in Kano has ruled that the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) doesn't have the power to enforce road safety laws on state and local government roads.

The court declared that FRSC officers acting in Kano metropolis in July 2025 were overstepping their authority by stopping and questioning motorists without a valid traffic offense.The judgment, delivered by Justice M.S.

Shuaibu, stated that these actions violated citizens' constitutional rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement under Sections 35 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution.The court granted a permanent injunction preventing FRSC officers from harassing motorists on state roads without proper authority.

It also ordered the FRSC to issue a public apology in a national newspaper and awarded N800,000 in damages to the lawyer who filed the case, Abba Hikima.The dispute began when FRSC officers set up checkpoints on township roads, stopping drivers and demanding licenses without cause.Hikima argued that FRSC's powers are limited to federal highways, not state roads.The ruling highlights the need for clear jurisdiction boundaries between federal and state agencies in law enforcement.