Yearly Renewal of Proof of Ownership Certificates for Vehicles – NBA-SPIDEL to Challenge FG in Court

The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest Litigation and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) has Constituted the legal team that will pilot the legal fireworks against the federal Government of Nigeria on the legality of the new policy on yearly renewal of proof of ownership certificates.

Recall that the Federal Government last month introduced an annual fee of N1,000 to be paid by motorists in the country for Proof of Ownership Certificate verification.

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos Ministry of Transportation, Abdulhafiz Toriola said, “The annual Proof of Ownership Certificate is in line with compliance with legal requirements fundamental to transparency, security and accountability within transportation network.

In a statement made available to The Lawyer, the NBA-SPIDEL Legal Team is “to critically examine the legality of the policy and take necessary legal actions, including litigation, to frontally challenge same immediately”.

Read the statement below

RE: YEARLY RENEWAL OF PROOF OF OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATES FOR VEHICLES BY JOINT TAX BOARD.; CONSTITUTION OF LEGAL TEAM TO CHALLENGE THE LEGALITY OF THE POLICY.

Pursuant to our mandate as the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest Litigation and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) which amongst others, is to defend the interest of the public against oppressive and illegal policies of public authorities, and the overall objective of the NBA to defend the rights of the people, we, the officers of SPIDEL hereby set up this Legal Team to critically examine the legality of the policy and take necessary legal actions, including litigation, to frontally challenge same immediately.

Members of the Legal Team are:

1. Kunle Edun..Lead Counsel.

2. Francis Ogunbowale..Ikeja branch.

3. Maxwell Opara.. Abuja branch.

4. Felix Akpowowo..Warri branch.

5. Adeola Folarin..Ikeja branch

6. Ibrahim Al-Hussein..Gombe branch.

7. Izu Aniagu..Enugu branch.

The consultant to the team is our well-respected Ikeazor Akaraiwe, SAN.

John Aikpokpo-Martins
Chairman (NBA-SPIDEL).

Funmi Adeogun
Secretary
(NBA-SPIDEL)