FRSC declares: Unclaimed cars in Akwa Ibom goes on auction

FRSC Spokesman in the state, Mr Paul James said the agency has the powers to auction the vehicles given that the machines have not been claimed for over six months.

He advised that traffic offenders whose vehicles were impounded and documents confiscated should show up and claim their vehicles or risk having them under the hammer.

Mr James explained that traffic offenders who are issued with a notice of offence sheet, either have their documents confiscated or vehicles impounded to secure payment of their fine or prosecution as the case may be.

"Unfortunately, people tend to forget the fact that any unclaimed impounded vehicle that has exceeded six months in FRSC custody, the Corps shall invoke the relevant sections of the law to dispose of the unclaimed vehicles by auction," he warned.

"The Corps may apply to the High Court for an order forfeiting the vehicle to the Corps."
In a statement, he went on: "However, this serves as reminder to the general public that the provisions of the extant regulations backing FRSC to carry out such obligations as contained in section 10 (5) (b) & (h) and section 10 (b) of the (Establishment) Act, 2007 which stipulates that:

"In the discharge of the functions of the Corps by or under this Act and notwithstanding the provision of section 18 (1) of the Act, a member of the Corps shall have power to impound any vehicle by which any offence under this Act is reasonably suspected to have been committed.

"Provided that if the driver or owner of the vehicle fails to reclaim such vehicle within six months of the date of its detention.

"The Corps may apply to the High Court for an order forfeiting the vehicle to the Corps, which may thereafter, dispose of the vehicle by public auction and deposit the proceed of the sale into the Government treasury," James added.