The Nigeria Police Force has halted nationwide enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy after being served with an interim court order restraining the move.
The Force had announced on December 15, 2025, that it would resume enforcing the policy from January 2, 2026, citing its duty to maintain public safety and internal security.
However, in a statement on Thursday, Force Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed that the police received an interim order on December 17, 2025, in Suit No. HOR/FHR/M/31/2025, preventing enforcement pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit or the lifting of the order.
“The Nigeria Police Force was served with an interim order of court restraining the Force from proceeding with the enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit or the vacation of the order,” Hundeyin said.
He added that in respect of constitutional obligations and judicial authority, “the Nigeria Police Force had entered appearance in the matter, raised preliminary objections, and formally applied for the vacation of the interim order.”
“The court has adjourned the case to 20th January 2026 for further proceedings,” he added.
The statement also quoted Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun as reaffirming the Force’s commitment to upholding the rule of law while safeguarding lives and property.
“Accordingly, and strictly in compliance with the subsisting court order, the Nigeria Police Force has placed the enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy on hold nationwide, pending the decision of the court,” the statement said.
The Force assured the public that it would continue to implement lawful and intelligence-driven strategies to address security challenges.
The planned enforcement had faced strong opposition, particularly from the Nigerian Bar Association, which maintains that it is illegal.
The NBA had on December 16, through its President Afam Osigwe, warned the IGP and Hundeyin against contempt of court for their insistence on proceeding with the enforcement despite existing court directives.
The NBA condemned Hundeyin’s press release, which had stated that enforcement would resume on January 2, 2026.
“The press release dated December 15, 2025, issued by Hundeyin, announcing reactivation 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,” Osigwe said.
He added that the announcement contradicted an October agreement between the NBA and the IGP, under which enforcement had been paused pending the outcome of a lawsuit challenging the policy.
The NBA argued that the Motor Tinted Glass (Prohibition) Act of 1991, which underpins the policy, is a military-era law that “does not meet democratic and constitutional standards.”
It maintained that the policy is “unconstitutional, illegal, and extortionate,” warning that its resumption could “initiate disorder and extortion, given the Nigeria Police’s long and sordid history of extortion, bribery, harassment, intimidation, and extra-judicial killings.”
Citing court proceedings, the NBA said: “Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1821/2025 came up for hearing on Friday, 12th December 2025, before Honourable 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,” Osigwe said.
The NBA, however, said it is prepared to provide legal representation to any motorist harassed by the police over tinted glass permits.
“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 association stated.
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