The Federal High Court in Kano has barred the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) from operating on state and local government roads in Kano State.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice M.S. Shuaibu also declared the corps’ operations on township roads within Kano metropolis unlawful, holding that they violated the fundamental rights of citizens.

The ruling followed a suit filed by Kano-based lawyer, Abba Hikima, who challenged the FRSC’s activities in July 2025.

The court held that FRSC officers acted outside their statutory powers by stopping, questioning and delaying motorists on township roads.

Justice Shuaibu ruled that the actions breached the constitutional rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement guaranteed under Sections 35 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution.

The court granted all the reliefs sought by Hikima, including a perpetual injunction restraining FRSC personnel from stopping or harassing motorists on Kano State roads without lawful authority.

The judge also ordered the corps to publish a public apology in a national newspaper and awarded the applicant ₦800,000 in damages and costs.

The suit arose from an incident in July 2025 when FRSC operatives mounted checkpoints on township roads in Kano and stopped motorists, including Hikima, demanding drivers’ licences and questioning them despite the absence of any primary traffic offence.

Hikima subsequently approached the court, arguing that the FRSC had unlawfully violated his fundamental rights.

He maintained that the corps’ statutory mandate covers only federal highways and does not extend to roads under the control of state and local governments.