NBA Slams Police Move to Resume Tinted Glass Enforcement, Warns of Contempt of Court
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has strongly condemned the decision by the Nigeria Police Force to resume enforcement of the suspended tinted glass permit policy, describing it as a direct affront to the authority of the courts and a dangerous subversion of the rule of law.
In a sharply worded statement, the NBA faulted a police announcement indicating that enforcement of the policy would recommence from January 2, 2026, despite ongoing litigation and subsisting judicial undertakings that led to the suspension of enforcement.
Background: A Policy Mired in Controversy
The tinted glass permit policy was introduced earlier in 2025, requiring motorists to obtain and periodically renew permits through an online platform, with associated fees. Almost immediately, the policy sparked widespread public backlash, amid reports of harassment, extortion and rights abuses—particularly against young Nigerians.
In response, the NBA, through its Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL), instituted a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, challenging the legality, constitutionality and economic implications of the policy. The suit questions whether the Police possess the legal authority to impose levies on citizens and whether the underlying law—traceable to a military-era decree—meets constitutional standards in a democratic setting.
Court Actions and Police Undertakings
While the Abuja suit was pending, a separate Federal High Court matter in Warri issued an order directing all parties to maintain the status quo, effectively restraining enforcement of the policy pending further judicial determination.
Following public outcry and judicial intervention, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) convened a high-level meeting involving senior police leadership, legal counsel and NBA representatives. At that meeting, it was agreed that enforcement would be suspended nationwide pending the outcome of the court cases.
That undertaking was subsequently communicated to, and relied upon by, the Federal High Court in Abuja. Based on the assurance given by counsel to the Police, the Court struck out a pending motion for interlocutory injunction, trusting that the executive arm would honour its commitment.
NBA: Police Reversal Is Reckless and Contemptuous
The NBA expressed deep concern that barely one working day after the court relied on the Police’s undertaking, a contradictory statement emerged announcing renewed enforcement.
According to the Association, the move represents:
- A reckless executive volte-face,
- A contemptuous disregard for judicial authority, and
- An attempt to impose financial hardship on citizens under the guise of regulation.
The NBA noted that the substantive suit challenging the policy has been fully argued and judgment reserved, stressing that any enforcement action at this stage amounts to pre-empting the court and undermining constitutional governance.
NBA Issues Directives, Threatens Legal Action
The Association has formally demanded that the Police withdraw the enforcement notice immediately and halt all implementation efforts until the courts deliver final judgments.
In addition, the NBA has directed its branches nationwide and its Human Rights Committee to provide legal support to any Nigerian harassed, detained, prosecuted or otherwise victimised under the policy.
Should the Police persist, the NBA warned that it would initiate contempt proceedings against the Inspector General of Police and senior police spokespersons, alongside professional disciplinary action against any legal practitioner found to have misled the court.
Appeal to the Presidency
The NBA also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene, warning that the resumption of enforcement would not only erode public trust but also deepen economic hardship at a time of widespread financial strain.
BRANDECONOMY Insight
This confrontation exposes a deeper institutional fault line in Nigeria’s governance architecture: the uneasy relationship between executive power and judicial authority. Beyond tinted glass permits, the issue is precedent. When law enforcement agencies reverse solemn undertakings given in open court, the damage extends far beyond one policy—it weakens investor confidence, undermines civic trust and corrodes democratic norms. For a country seeking global credibility and economic stability, respect for court orders is not optional; it is foundational.
FULL PRESS STATEMENT
NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION
THE RESUMPTION OF ENFORCEMENT OF THE POLICE UNLAWFUL TINTED GLASS PERMIT POLICY IS A GRAVE AFFRONT TO THE MAJESTY OF THE COURT AND A SUBVERSION OF THE RULE OF LAW
A press release dated 15th December 2025, issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, announcing the reactivation of the enforcement of the suspended tinted glass permit policy with effect from 2nd January 2026, has once again confirmed the sad reality that the Nigeria Police Force, despite being the foremost law enforcement agency in Nigeria, continues to exhibit a troubling disregard for the rule of law and the due process it is constitutionally mandated to uphold. The press release not only amounts to executive recklessness but also portrays the Nigeria Police Force and its leadership as lacking in respect for the court, the rule of law, and due process of law.
A recap of the events leading up to this moment will provide context for our position. In April 2025, the Inspector General of Police purportedly introduced a policy mandating that citizens annually obtain motor vehicle tinted glass permits through an online platform (possap.gov.ng), with enforcement initially scheduled to begin June 1, 2025, and later postponed to October 2. Reports of harassment, extortion, and civil rights violations, particularly against young people, became widespread.
On September 2, 2025, the Nigerian Bar Association, through its Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), instituted an action before the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1821/2025 between Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association v. Inspector General of Police & Anor, challenging the legality of the Tinted Glass Permit Policy. The suit questioned, among other things, the lack of constitutional or statutory authority vested in the Nigeria Police Force to levy fees or impose financial obligations on citizens under the guise of enforcing the policy. 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:
a.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;
b.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.
c.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.
d.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.
e.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.
f.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.
g.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.
h.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.
i.The policy brazenly nullifies already issued permits, and the purported requirement for renewal of the permits has no legal basis.
The court processes were duly served on the Defendants, including the Inspector General of Police, who briefed a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Ayotunde Ogunleye, SAN, to represent them in the suit. Meanwhile, on 3rd October 2025, the Federal High Court, Warri Division, issued an order directing parties to maintain the status quo in Suit No: FHC/WR/CS/103/2025 between John Aikpokpo-Martins v. Inspector General of Police, thereby restraining the Police from enforcing the policy pending the determination of a Motion for Interlocutory Injunction.
Following this order and the public outrage that trailed the attempted continuation of enforcement in clear disobedience to the court, the Inspector General of Police convened a meeting involving members of the Police Management Team, including the IGP, Deputy Inspectors General of Police, AIG Legal, their counsel Chief Ayotunde Ogunleye, SAN, and representatives of the NBA, including myself, Abdul Mohammed, SAN, Olukunle Edun, SAN, Paul Daudu, SAN, and Mr. John Aikpokpo-Martins, among others.
The NBA held a high-level engagement with the Inspector General of Police, where it was agreed that the enforcement of the policy will be immediately suspended to await the outcome of the matters in court and that the Police will direct its officers to cease and desist from further enforcement of the policy. The IGP subsequently suspended enforcement of the policy pending court pronouncement, as well ordered that police would cease the enforcement of the policy.
Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1821/2025 came up for hearing on Friday, 12th December 2025, before Hon. Justice M. S. Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja. During proceedings, Chief Ayotunde Ogunleye, SAN, informed the Court of the agreement reached between the NBA and the IGP suspending enforcement of the policy. On the strength of that representation, which the Court accepted as a solemn assurance, the Motion for Interlocutory Injunction was struck out.
It is therefore deeply disturbing that barely one working day after the Court relied on the undertaking of the Defendants’ counsel, a contradictory statement emerged from the Nigeria Police Force announcing a reactivation of enforcement. This volte-face represents a reckless overreach, a contemptuous disregard for the authority of the Court, and a serious assault on institutional integrity. It portrays the Nigerian Police Force as having scant regard for the rule of law and as a body insistent on imposing financial hardship on Nigerians for the financial gains of private business owners/interests.
The NBA notes that Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1821/2025 has been fully heard and judgment reserved. The Inspector General of Police has a constitutional obligation to respect the judicial process and refrain from any action capable of pre-empting or undermining the Court’s decision.
Accordingly, the Nigerian Bar Association calls on the Inspector General of Police to immediately withdraw the statement issued by CSP Benjamin Hundeyin and halt all attempts to reactivate enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy pending the final determination of all related court actions.
Furthermore, in defence of the rights of Nigerians, the NBA hereby directs all NBA Branches and the NBA Human Rights Committee to immediately intervene and provide legal representation to any Nigerian who is harassed, arrested, whose movement is impeded, whose vehicle is impounded, or who is prosecuted by the Police on account of the alleged violation of this unlawful tinted glass permit policy. The NBA will not allow citizens to be subjected to intimidation or abuse under a policy currently before the courts.
Should the Inspector General of Police fail or refuse to heed this lawful admonition, the Nigerian Bar Association will commence committal proceedings against the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, until they purge themselves of contempt. Appropriate professional proceedings will also be initiated against any counsel found to have misled the Court.
The statement made in open court by Chief Ayotunde Ogunleye, SAN, constituted a judicial undertaking binding on the Defendants. Any contrary executive action amounts to overreaching the Court and undermines the rule of law, as firmly settled by the Supreme Court in Governor of Lagos State v. Ojukwu (1986) 1 NWLR (Pt. 18) 621.
The Nigerian Bar Association sincerely hopes that the Nigeria Police Force will retrace its steps, respect the authority of the courts, and align its conduct with constitutional democracy and the rule of law. We also call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the Inspector General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force 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.
MAZI AFAM OSIGWE, SAN
PRESIDENT
