By ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & ONOZURE DANIA
Commercial motorcycles riders, commonly called Okada riders in Lagos have demanded the release of over  8,000 bikes seized by the Lagos State Government, following the order by a Federal High Court, Ikeja, Lagos, which restrained the state government from arresting them.

Speaking through their lawyer, Mr Bamidele Aturu, the Okada riders said the early action of the government in arresting and impounding their motorcycles in view of the recent court’s judgment was illegal and uncalled for.

Chairman of Motorcycle Transport Union of Nigeria, MTUN, Pastor Ugo Paul, said the judgment of the court had exposed the fact that the Lagos State Government acted under a non-existing law in seizing their motorcycles.

He argued that there was no law in place, which empowered the seizure of their motorcycles for operating on the highway as at the time they were seized, adding that Lagos State Government, acted illegally by seizing their motorcycles.

The Okada riders under the auspice of four different associations had approached the Federal High Court, Ikeja, asking the court to determine whether the action of the state government in seizing their motorcycles and subsequent ban from the highways was in order.

The plaintiffs in the suit were Mr  Aliyu Wamba of All Nigeria Automobile Commercial Drivers and Workers Association, NACOWA; Pastor Paul of Motorcycle Transport Union of Nigeria, MTUN; Mr Daramola Williams of National Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association, NATOMORA and Prince Aladesanmi of Okada Welfare Association, OWA.