NBA Sues IGP Kayode Egbetokun Over Tinted Glass Permit Policy

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has taken the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to court over the recently reintroduced tinted glass permit policy, which it described as illegal and a breach of citizens’ fundamental rights.

The decision was reached at the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Enugu on August 23.

The NBA resolved to challenge the directive issued in April 2025 by IGP Kayode Egbetokun, which requires motorists to obtain yearly permits for vehicles with tinted windows.

The policy, initially set to begin on June 1 but later postponed to October 2, requires motorists to obtain annual permits for tinted glasses through a digital portal (possap.gov.ng).

In a statement issued on Thursday, Paul Ananaba, chairman of the NBA’s Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL), said the arrangement lacks transparency and accountability.

The statement read, “In April 2025, the Inspector General of Police purportedly introduced a policy which mandated members of the Nigerian motoring public to apply for and obtain annual motor tinted glass permits from the Nigeria Police Force for a fee.

“The Inspector General of Police in the same month purportedly launched a digital portal (possap.gov.ng) through which the application for tinted glass permits was to be processed.

“We are being informed that the portal and the policy are to be managed by a private vendor, and there is no indication that the funds generated from the enforcement of the purported policy will go into the Federation Account.”

Although the policy has not formally taken effect, the association said, “there have been several reported cases of harassment and extortion of citizens by the policemen in checkpoint duty on the basis of this same policy.”

He noted that the portal is being run by a private company, with no evidence that funds collected will be paid into the Federation Account.

The NBA alleged that payments are being funneled into a private account belonging to Parkway Projects, raising serious concerns.

Ananaba further argued that the requirement for a tinted glass permit infringes on rights to dignity, privacy, freedom of movement, and property.

He also questioned the legality of basing the directive on the 1991 Motor Tinted Glass (Prohibition) Act, a military-era decree that the association insists does not align with democratic constitutional standards.

Through SPIDEL, the NBA has now filed a public interest lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, marked as Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/182/2025, with the case yet to be assigned to a judge.

Ananaba explained that the association is ready to see the case through and urged the police to suspend any enforcement until the court delivers its verdict.

The tinted glass permit platform was relaunched by the police on May 1, 2025, despite widespread complaints in the past that similar policies had led to extortion and arbitrary arrests.

While the police maintain that the initiative will improve security and ensure transparency, many Nigerians have criticized the N16,000 annual fee as unfair in the current harsh economy.