Umuahia, Nigeria – After a five-year legal battle, the Court of Appeal has upheld a High Court judgment in favor of Dr. Emmanuel Shebbs, awarding him ₦10 million in damages against the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for unlawful detention and violation of his fundamental rights.
The case arose from a 2020 incident during the COVID-19 lockdown when Dr. Shebbs was stopped by FRSC officers along Bende Road in Umuahia. Despite having valid vehicle documents and all required safety equipment, officers allegedly demanded a bribe. Upon refusal, they confiscated his driver’s license and accused him of fabricated offences.
Rather than comply or leverage his official status and connections, Dr. Shebbs chose to challenge the action in court. He filed a suit at the Abia State High Court, which ruled in his favor and initially awarded ₦30 million in damages. The FRSC appealed the decision, but the Court of Appeal affirmed the violation, reducing the compensation to ₦10 million.
“This case was never about the money,” Dr. Shebbs said. “It was about justice, accountability, and setting a precedent for young Nigerians who face similar abuses daily.”
The appellate court’s ruling in FRSC & Anor v. Shebbs establishes a judicial precedent: the FRSC has no legal right to seize a driver’s licence, vehicle, or documents without lawful justification or an intent to prosecute.
Dr. Shebbs has pledged to make the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment available to legal practitioners working on human rights cases, calling it his “humble contribution to the development of human rights law in Nigeria.”
He commended both the High Court and the Court of Appeal for what he described as a “revolutionary and legendary” decision, while also thanking his legal team and friends who supported him through the legal process.
“There is hope in the Nigerian judiciary,” he concluded. “Justice is possible—if you do the right thing and follow the law.”
