NBA sues IGP over vehicle certificate

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Public Interest and Development Law has sued the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over the issuance of the Central Motor Information System for vehicle owners across the country.

The action followed the end of a seven-day ultimatum to the Nigeria Police Force through a letter dated January 29, 2024, by the NBA-SPIDEL chairman, John Aikpokpo-Martins, and secretary, Funmi Adeogun, challenging the legality of issuance of the vehicle certificate. The police had in December 2023 introduced the Central Motor Registry Information System Certificate (CMRIS) for vehicle database at the cost of N6,000.

The NBA-SPIDEL is contending in court that there is no provision in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Police Act, or any other law that gives the Nigeria Police Force under the authority of the IG the right, power, or authority to maintain a motor registry or issue certificates of identification or proof/evidence of ownership as the CMRIS.

They also argue that the Nigeria Police Force is not a revenue-generating agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria and as such lacks the right to fix and collect fees for the issuance of the certificate from Nigerians.

They are also seeking an order of the court directing the police to stop the CMRIS forthwith.

They also urged the court to order the defendants to give a comprehensive account of all the monies collected for the issuance of the certificate from inception to the date of judgment to the plaintiffs and the appropriation committees of the National Assembly and the Accountant General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.