Passengers’ Welfare Scheme: Akwa Ibom transport operator seeks N10m damages from Delta govt

NSIK Motors Limited, operator of Akwa Ibom State Transport Company (AKTC), has dragged Delta State Government to a High Court sitting in Effurun, seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the state from further harassment and impoundment of the company’s vehicles under the guise of its Passengers’ Welfare Scheme.

The firm, in its statement of claim, sought damages in the sum of N10 million for unlawful impoundment and restriction of its vehicles for five hours allegedly by agents of the state government.

It also sought a declaration by the court that “by express provision of Section 3 of the Motor Vehicles Third Party Insurance Act, Cap M22, Laws of the Federation, 2004, the vehicles of the claimants are supposed to traverse all the nooks and crannies of the country, including Delta State of Nigeria, unmolested and undisturbed, upon proof of such statutory compliance thereof.”

Joined in the suit number EHC/195/2021 are Calf-Time Global Concept Limited, first defendant; the State Ministry of Transport, third defendant and the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, fourth defendant.

The statement reads in part: “The claimants, in the course of operating as transporters in Delta State and in Warri, had been treading within the ambit of the law, by paying some park levies and all statutory obligations to local and state governments.

“As a law-abiding transport company, the claimants have religiously paid lawful fees/dues within and outside the state.

“The claimants aver that they were taken aback when the 1st defendant engaged their officers at the said Airport Junction, for the purpose of paying N100 per passenger, in a manifest and promised that they (the 1st defendant) shall revert to the claimants in a way of paying them some percentage, out of the total sum realised monthly, from the payment in the manifest per bus,” the company asked.

(The Guardian)