\n\nThe Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has prohibited the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) from arresting or confiscating private vehicles not used for commercial purposes while plying roads within the council’s territory.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, 4th February 2026, in suit number CV/1157/2025, Justice Y. Halilu ruled in favour of the claimant, Salimon Abdulhakeem Abiodun, an Abuja resident who had sued AMAC and its chairman over the unlawful arrest and confiscation of his vehicle.
Key Orders from the Court
The court issued several landmark orders, including:
A prohibition order barring the defendants, their agents, partners, and subordinates from arresting the claimant’s vehicle or any other private vehicles not used for commercial purposes while using Abuja roads within AMAC territory.
A declaration that the arrest and confiscation of the claimant’s car—with Chassis Number 5TDZA23C75S264195 and registered private plate number KWL-63CE—was “unlawful, oppressive and a clear violation of the Claimant’s fundamental right to own a private property.”
A declaration that the forceful collection of N50,000 on 11th January 2023, another N50,000 on 8th February 2024, and N20,000 on 3rd March 2025 from the claimant by the defendants for “Mobile Advert fees and Daily and Yearly Ticketing fees” were “illegal, oppressive and amount to extortion.”
A refund order directing the defendants to immediately refund the total sum of N120,000 forcefully and unlawfully collected from the claimant over the three years.
An award of general damages in the sum of N2.5 million in favour of the claimant.
Background of the Case
Abiodun had filed the suit in March 2025, seeking among other things an interpretation of the bye-laws of the Abuja Municipal Area Council following the arrest and confiscation of his vehicle by council officials.
The judgment effectively restrains the council from extending its enforcement powers to private vehicle owners not engaged in commercial activities, setting a significant precedent for the treatment of private property rights within the FCT.
