The debate over the Nigeria Police Force’s (NPF) tinted glass permit policy has snowballed into a legal standoff, pitting the country’s foremost law enforcement body against its most influential legal association, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
While motorists are caught in the middle, EKO HOT BLOG looks at the bigger issue at stake: the supremacy of the rule of law.
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The NBA’s Position
In September, the NBA, through its Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL), filed a public interest suit challenging the legality of the policy that requires motorists to obtain annual permits for tinted glass via the police’s digital platform (possap.gov.ng).
The association argued that the directive violates rights to dignity, privacy, freedom of movement, and property. It also questioned the policy’s legal foundation, pointing out that the police appear to rely on an old military decree—the Motor Tinted Glass (Prohibition) Act of 1991—which may not meet constitutional standards in a democratic society.
In a letter to the Inspector-General of Police dated October 1, NBA-SPIDEL stressed that since the suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1821/2025) is already before the Federal High Court, the police have a legal duty to maintain the status quo until the court makes a determination. It threatened contempt proceedings against the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, for what it described as “egregious disregard” for the court.
The Police’s Position
The police insist they are acting within the law. Force spokesperson Hundeyin dismissed the NBA’s objections as “misleading,” citing section 2(3a) of the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, 2004, which empowers the Inspector-General of Police—or his delegate—to issue permits for tinted glass if an applicant shows good cause, such as health or security needs.
To demonstrate resolve, the Delta State Police Command began enforcement in Asaba on October 2, impounding 25 vehicles for lacking valid permits.
The command announced the exercise on X, urging motorists to obtain their permits online or risk arrest.
Enforcement of tint permits. Twenty-five vehicles impounded for driving a tinted vehicle without a tinted permit in Asaba. Visit @POSSAP_NGG website today and get it done or your police state headquarters. pic.twitter.com/3Ng7IBIHKq
— Delta State Police Command (@DeltaPoliceNG) October 3, 2025
The Court’s Role
Ordinarily, once a matter is filed in court, both parties are bound to maintain the status quo until judgment. Legal experts say that enforcement of the policy while it is under judicial consideration undermines the court’s authority.
As lawyer Ridwan Oke explained: “Once a matter is in court, the matter becomes sub judice. Taking actions to undermine the subject matter before the court is an affront to the powers of the court to decide that case.”
Once a matter is in court, the matter becomes subjudice. Taking actions to undermine the subject matter before the court is an affront to the powers of the court to decide that case. https://t.co/Iy11XTyEPv
— Ridwan Oke (@RidwanuLlah) September 29, 2025
Here lies the crux of the dispute: the NBA insists the police must respect the court’s discretion, while the police have proceeded as if the case does not exist.
What Motorists Should Know
While the courts are unquestionably superior in this situation, the police have already begun enforcement in parts of the country. This means motorists risk arrest, fines, or vehicle impoundment if they drive with tinted glass without a valid permit.
In principle, the NBA’s argument aligns with near-consensus among lawyers: the police are acting in contempt of the judiciary. But in practice, the inconvenience of having a car impounded, or being dragged into a police station, may outweigh the principle for ordinary Nigerians.
FURTHER READING
For now, the safest option for motorists is to obtain the permit, even if the policy itself may ultimately be struck down by the courts. Until a clear ruling is delivered, the legal battle continues, but on the roads, the police hold the immediate power.
Philip Ibitoye is a Special Correspondent with EKO HOT BLOG. Click here to find daily analysis and critical insight on trending issues in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria.
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