NBA accuses police of contempt over tinted glass permit enforcement

The NBA the announcement by the police to reactivate tinted glass permit enforcement from 2 January 2026.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has accused the Nigeria Police Force of contempt of court and a disregard for the rule of law over its plan to resume enforcement of the motor vehicle tinted glass permit policy.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page on Tuesday, NBA President Afam Osigwe condemned a press release by the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, announcing the reactivation of the policy from 2 January 2026.

Mr Osigwe, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), described the move as “executive recklessness” and a “disturbing disregard for the rule of law and due process.”

He said the announcement undermined the authority of the courts and suggested that the Police were prioritising revenue over citizens’ rights.

Backstory

The policy, introduced by the Inspector-General of Police in April, required motorists to obtain annual tinted glass permits via an online platform.

Enforcement, initially scheduled for 1 June and later postponed to 2 October, faced criticism over reports of harassment, extortion, and civil rights violations.

On 2 September, the NBA, through its Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), filed a suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1821/2025) at the Federal High Court, Abuja, challenging the legality of the policy.

The NBA argued that the measure was based on the outdated Motor Tinted Glass (Prohibition) Act of 1991, lacked statutory authority to impose fees, and could lead to harassment and abuse by the Police.

The association also warned that the policy placed unnecessary financial burdens on Nigerians, especially as many imported vehicles already come with factory-fitted tinted glass.

The police were duly served court processes, represented by Ayotunde Ogunleye, also a SAN.

On 3 October, the Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, in a related case, ordered the police to maintain the status quo and restrain enforcement of the tinted glass permit pending judicial determination.

Following public outcry, the IGP held a meeting with NBA representatives, resulting in a temporary suspension of the policy.

Court proceedings and NBA response

The case came up for hearing on 12 December before Judge M. S. Liman. During the hearing, the police confirmed the suspension agreement, leading the court to strike out the motion for interlocutory injunction.

Therefore, the NBA called the police’s announcement to resume enforcement “a reckless overreach” and “a serious assault on institutional integrity.”

The association urged the IGP to withdraw the statement and halt enforcement until all related court matters are determined.

It also directed its branches and the NBA Human Rights Committee to provide legal support to any motorist harassed or prosecuted over the policy.

Police justification

Mr Benjamin, who is a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), defended the planned resumption of enforcement, citing security concerns.

“Some individuals and organised criminal groups have exploited unauthorised tinted glass to conceal their identities and commit crimes ranging from armed robbery to kidnapping,” he said.

He added that enforcement would respect citizens’ rights and existing laws, and that the earlier suspension was intended to allow motorists to regularise their documentation.

Josephine Adeh, spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, had reiterated that the regulation was introduced for security reasons, not revenue generation, noting that all payments are remitted to the federal government’s Treasury Single Account (TSA).

The tinted glass permit policy has been widely criticised for enabling harassment and extortion, with civil rights groups urging the Police to respect court orders and citizens’ rights.