The Nigerian Bar Association 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 police had in December 2023 unveiled CMRIS as one of the means to help the police have essential details of vehicle owners in its database.
However, according to the NBA-SPIDEL, obtaining the certificate from the Nigeria Police Force costs N6,000.
However, in a letter dated January 29, the NBA-SPIDEL Chairman, John Aikpokpo-Martins, and Secretary, Funmi Adeogun, described the issuance of the certificate illegal and issued a seven-day ultimatum on the IG to discontinue its issuance.
Following the failure of the IG to oblige to their request, the NBA-SPIDEL chair and secretary filed an application seeking to stop the IG and the Nigeria Police Force from issuing the certificate.
The plaintiffs contended that no provisions under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Police Act, or any other law give the Nigeria Police Force under the command and authority of the IG the right, power, or authority to maintain a motor registry or issue certificates of identification or proof/evidence of ownership called the Central Motor Registry Information System Certificate (or in any other name called) to Nigerians.
They also held 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 Central Motor Registry Information System Certificate from Nigerians.
The plaintiffs, however, sought an order from the court directing the defendants to dismantle the Central Motor Registry Information System and stop the issuance of the Central Motor Registry Information System Certificate 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 National Assembly and the Accountant-General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The plaintiffs urged the court to order the defendants to refund all monies collected from those who obtained the certificate.
“An order directing the defendants to disclose to the plaintiffs the names of the banks and the accounts’ details in which the monies paid for the issuance of the Central Motor Registry Information System Certificates are paid into within 7 days of the judgment.
“An Order appointing KPMG Nigeria or any other reputable audit firm to audit the said account(s) in which monies for the issuance of the said Central Motor Registry Information certificates are paid into,” the plaintiffs added.
