The police headquarters in Abuja yesterday said it was illegal for any law enforcement agency to remove number plates of any vehicle while trying to punish vehicle owners for traffic offences.

The FCT administration recently introduced 'park and pay' policy in which vehicle owners are required to pay certain amount of money per time for parking in some places. However, in trying to enforce the law, 'park and pay' officials usually clamp on vehicles or remove number plates.

Inspector General Mohammed Abubakar,who said this yesterday at the conference of senior police officers in Abuja, noted that no law allows any law enforcement officer or vehicle owner to remove number plate.

"I don't know of any law that permits anyone to remove vehicle number plate," he said.

The police also warned that it is illegal to drive a vehicle without a licensed plate.