By Fresh Facts Magazine Staff Writer
In a resounding victory for civil rights and the rule of law, the High Court of Justice in Warri has delivered a landmark judgment against the Delta State Internal Revenue Service (DSIRS), declaring its practice of mounting roadblocks for revenue collection illegal and unconstitutional.
The ruling, handed down in Suit No: W/261/2023 – Chief Oghenero Okoro & Anor v. Delta State Internal Revenue Service & Anor – granted all reliefs sought by the claimants, including a perpetual injunction restraining the DSIRS from deploying any revenue taskforce on public roads. The judgment effectively bans the notorious checkpoints where DSIRS operatives have for years stopped vehicles under the guise of verifying motor vehicle particulars and collecting levies.
This court action, championed by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Warri Branch, followed persistent complaints from members of the public about harassment, extortion, and disruption caused by the DSIRS’s taskforce operations across Delta State. Motorists, commercial drivers, and private citizens alike had repeatedly called for government intervention, describing the roadblocks as “revenue traps” that infringed on their right to free movement.
For many, this ruling is a long-overdue response to what had become a widespread public nuisance. Social media platforms and radio call-in shows in Delta have been awash with complaints about the excesses of these revenue agents, who were often accused of impounding vehicles, intimidating drivers, and collecting unofficial fees under duress.
Reacting to the court’s decision, a spokesperson for the NBA Warri Branch hailed it as “a victory for the rule of law and the rights of road users in Delta State,” stressing that the judgment reaffirmed the constitutional limits of state agencies and protected citizens from unlawful practices.
Despite repeated efforts by Fresh Facts Magazine to get an official reaction from the Delta State Commissioner for Information, all attempts proved abortive at the time of filing this report. Phone calls and messages to his office went unanswered, leaving many wondering whether the state government intends to comply swiftly with the ruling or challenge it further.
Meanwhile, the court’s order includes the immediate disbandment of all DSIRS taskforces currently operating on highways across the state.
For now, Delta residents can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that the judiciary has stepped in to halt a practice many considered exploitative and unlawful. Whether the state government will respect the court’s decision and seek more lawful revenue channels remains to be seen
