The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has strongly criticized the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for its announcement to restart enforcement of the controversial tinted glass permit policy. The legal body labels the move a direct affront to the judiciary and a blatant violation of the rule of law.
Police Announcement Sparks Legal Fury
On December 15, 2025, the police issued a statement declaring that enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy would recommence on January 2, 2026. The NPF justified this by stating the earlier suspension was voluntary and not mandated by any court order. They claimed the pause was to allow motorists time to regularize their documents and to address increasing crimes linked to vehicles with unauthorized tinted windows.
However, the NBA, in a swift response, has condemned this plan. In a statement signed by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), the association described the police announcement as showing a "troubling disregard for due process." The NBA emphasized that the legality of the policy is still being contested in court.
Background of the Legal Battle
The policy, introduced by the Inspector General of Police in April 2025, required vehicle owners to obtain annual permits for tinted glass via an online platform. It quickly led to widespread reports of:
- Harassment of motorists
- Extortion by officers
- Alleged rights abuses, particularly targeting young Nigerians
In response to public outcry, the NBA's Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja on September 2, 2025. The suit challenges the policy's constitutionality, arguing that the police lack the legal authority to impose such fees and that the policy is economically burdensome and extortionate.
Following a meeting between police authorities, legal representatives, and NBA leaders, it was agreed that enforcement would be suspended pending the court's judgment. This undertaking was formally confirmed in court on December 12, 2025. Based on this assurance, the court struck out a motion for an injunction and reserved its judgment.
NBA's Strong Warning and Next Steps
The NBA expressed deep concern that the police announced the resumption of enforcement barely one working day after the court relied on their undertaking to suspend it. The association views this as an act of contempt of court.
The NBA has now called on the Inspector General of Police to immediately withdraw the enforcement directive. It issued a clear warning that it is prepared to take decisive action, which includes:
- Providing legal support to citizens affected by the enforcement.
- Initiating contempt of court proceedings against the police.
- Pursuing disciplinary actions against the force.
This development sets the stage for a significant confrontation between the nation's premier legal association and the police force over the limits of administrative power and respect for judicial processes.
