NBA to Police on Tinted Glass Permit: Respect court order

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has told the Nigeria Police Force to respect the court order suspending the implementation of the tinted glass permit.

The NBA spoke following a statement by the police on Monday that it would recommence the tinted glass permit implementation.

In a statement by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), on Tuesday, the NBA said the Inspector General of Police, IGP Olukayode Egbetokun, has a constitutional obligation to respect the judicial process and refrain from any action capable of pre-empting or undermining the court’s decision.

According to the NBA, its Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), had on September 2, 2025 instituted an action before the Federal High Court in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1821/2025, between Incorporated Trustees of the NBA v. IGP & Anor, challenging the legality of the Tinted Glass Permit Policy.

Osigwe said: “In challenging the legality and constitutionality of the policy because the NBA contends that the policy is unconstitutional, obnoxious, illegal, extortionate, and a threat to citizens’ rights and economic well-being, the NBA thus contends in the suit that:

“The Motor Tinted Glass (Prohibition) Act of 1991, under which the policy is premised, is a military-era decree that no longer meets the democratic thresholds of justification under Section 45 and other relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution;

“The National Assembly does not have the legislative competence to enact the law; therefore, the same cannot rightly be deemed a law properly made by the National Assembly.

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“The enforcement of the unlawful policy will initiate disorder and extortion, given the Nigeria Police’s long and sordid history of extortion, bribery, harassment, intimidation, and extra-judicial killings.

“The policy is a brazen revenue-generating drive by the Nigeria Police Force, which by law is not a revenue-generating organisation. This is particularly worrisome as the fees are paid into the account of a private company.

“The imposed levy for obtaining and renewal of the permit adds to Nigeria’s ever-increasing layers of taxation, thereby portraying Nigeria as a difficult place to do business. The levy imposed financial burden and hardship on Nigerians struggling with economic hardship.

“The permit policy undermines Nigeria’s tax reforms, which will come into effect in January 2026, in that it will add to the multiplicity of taxes and taxing agencies in Nigeria, as well as the high corporate tax burden on businesses.

“Nigeria imports cars from abroad, and modern vehicles come with factory-fitted tinted glasses, yet the Police discountenance this in the drive to generate revenue for themselves and a few individuals.

“The payment proceeds into a private bank account (PARKWAY PROJECTS, Account No: 4001017918) instead of the Treasury Single Account raises serious concerns of transparency and corruption.

“The policy brazenly nullifies already issued permits, and the purported requirement for renewal of the permits has no legal basis.”

Justifying its position, the NBA said on October 3, 2025, the Warri Division of the Federal High Court issued an order directing parties to maintain the status quo in Suit No: FHC/WR/CS/103/2025, between John Aikpokpo-Martins v. IGP, thereby restraining the Police from enforcing the policy pending the determination of a motion for interlocutory injunction.

It said the court order and public outrage that trailed the attempted continuation of enforcement of the policy led the IGP to convene a meeting that involved police authorities, their lawyer, and representatives of the NBA.

It, therefore, wondered why the Force Public Relations Officer and a Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, announced the reactivation of the enforcement of the suspended tinted glass permit policy with effect from January 2, 2026.

Osigwe added in the statement: “We also call on President Bola Tinubu to call the IGP and the NPF to order, as the planned resumption of the policy will not only amount to a slap on the face of the court but also impose unjustified financial hardship on them.”

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