By RismadarVoice Media
December 16, 2025
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has strongly condemned the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) over its planned resumption of enforcement of the suspended tinted glass permit policy.
It describes the move as a grave affront to the authority of the court, a blatant subversion of the rule of law.
The condemnation followed a press release dated 15th December 2025, issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, announcing that enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy would resume nationwide from January 2, 2026.
In a statement signed by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, the NBA said the announcement was reckless, contemptuous, inconsistent with solemn undertakings made by the Police before the Federal High Court.
According to the NBA, the tinted glass permit policy was initially introduced by the Inspector General of Police in April 2025, requiring motorists to obtain annually, through an online portal.
The policy was slated for enforcement on June 1, 2025, later shifted to October 2, following widespread reports of harassment, extortion, abuse of citizens, particularly young Nigerians, by police officers.
Concerned by the developments, the NBA, through its Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), instituted a suit on September 2, 2025, before the Federal High Court, Abuja, challenging the legality of the policy.
The suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/1821/2025, questions the constitutional and statutory authority of the Police to impose fees on citizens and describes the policy as unconstitutional, illegal, extortionate, economically oppressive.
Meanwhile, on October 3, 2025, the Federal High Court in Warri issued an order directing parties to maintain the status quo in a related suit, effectively restraining the Police from enforcing the policy.
Following public outrage, allegations of disobedience to court orders, the Inspector General of Police convened a high-level meeting with senior police officers, legal counsel, and NBA representatives.
At the meeting, it was agreed that enforcement of the policy would be suspended, pending the outcome of court proceedings.
The agreement was later communicated to the Federal High Court, Abuja, on December 12, 2025, by counsel to the Police, Chief Ayotunde Ogunleye, SAN, during proceedings before Justice M. S. Liman.
Relying on the undertaking, the Court struck out a pending application for interlocutory injunction.
The NBA expressed shock that barely one working day after the court relied on the Police’ assurance, the NPF announced a reactivation of enforcement.
The Association has therefore demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Police statement, a halt to all enforcement actions.
It also directed all NBA branches and its Human Rights Committees – nationwide to provide free legal representation to any citizen harassed, arrested, or prosecuted under the policy.
The Association further warned that it would commence contempt proceedings against the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Force Public Relations Officer if the directive is ignored, and initiate professional disciplinary actions against any counsel found to have misled the court.
The NBA also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and rein in the Police, warning that the policy would impose unjustified financial hardship on Nigerians, undermine public confidence in the justice system.
