Court Orders Police To Suspend Enforcement Of Tinted Glass Permit Policy

The Federal High Court in Delta State has ordered the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to put a stop to enforcing its tinted glass permit policy until further notice.

The directive was issued on Friday, with the court instructing police authorities to hold off on implementation while a pending case is still being heard.

The case was brought before the court by lawyer John Aikpokpo-Martins, who is challenging the legality of the policy and the powers of the police to enforce it.

The court asked the police and the IGP to maintain the status quo and “respect judicial processes pending further proceedings in the matter.”

The court issued the interim order as hearing opened in Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/103/2025, instituted by legal practitioner John Aikpokpo-Martins against the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force.

In the interim order, the Court directed the police authorities to “respect judicial processes pending further proceedings in the matter.”

Senior Advocate Kunle Edun, SAN, who led the legal team for the petitioner, confirmed the development to journalists and noted that “the directive is a major step in ensuring that the rule of law is upheld while the substantive issues in the case are being determined.”

This case is separate from the lawsuit filed by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The contentious policy requires car owners to obtain annual permits for tinted windows via an online portal (possap.gov.ng). It was first slated to begin on June 1 but later shifted to October 2.

The NBA’s Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) had earlier dragged the police to court, describing the policy as unconstitutional and a violation of Nigerians’ rights to privacy, dignity, property, and free movement.

The association also questioned the legal basis of the directive, pointing out that the police were relying on an outdated 1991 military decree, the Motor Tinted Glass (Prohibition) Act, which they argued does not meet democratic standards.

Responding to the association, the police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin dismissed the NBA’s claims as misleading and damaging to the image of the force.

He insisted that under section 2(3a) of the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, 2004, the Inspector-General of Police or anyone he authorises has the power to grant permits for tinted windows if valid health or security reasons are provided.

Despite the court cases, several police commands had earlier reminded motorists that enforcement would begin October 2.

On October 1, the NBA wrote directly to the IGP, faulting the decision to proceed with enforcement while the matter was still before the courts.

KanyiDaily recalls that the NBA previously dragged the IGP to court over the reintroduced tinted glass permit policy, which it described as illegal and a breach of citizens’ fundamental rights.