- Court halts police on tinted permit enforcement pending legal challenge.
- Police insist law empowers IGP to approve tinted glass permits.
- Regulation aimed at curbing crimes like kidnapping and armed robbery.
A Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, has directed the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector-General of Police to maintain the status quo in a suit filed by lawyer John Aikpokpo-Martins, who is challenging the legality of the enforcement of tinted glass permits.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the case, which has drawn national attention, questions whether the police have the authority to regulate and enforce the use of tinted vehicle glass across the country.
In response to the suit, the Nigeria Police Force defended its position, insisting that it is legally empowered to issue tinted glass permits. The police also dismissed reports suggesting that the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had instituted a separate legal action against the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over the policy.
Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, in a statement, said it was necessary to clarify the matter to avoid misleading the public on the legality of tinted glass permits.
He explained that under Section 2(3a) of the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, 2004, the Inspector-General of Police or any duly authorised person has the authority to grant or approve the permit. He further noted that Section 1(2) of the same Act requires applicants to show good cause, either on health grounds or for security reasons, before approval is granted.
Hundeyin stressed that the regulation aligns with the police mandate to prevent and reduce crime, adding that the issuance of permits is an important measure to combat criminal activities such as kidnapping, armed robbery, terrorism, and the notorious one-chance operations.
The matter is expected to continue in court as stakeholders await further directions on the enforcement of the policy.
