The Nigeria Police Force's announcement to restart enforcement of its controversial tinted glass permit policy from January 2, 2026, has ignited a fresh legal confrontation with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). The association has strongly opposed the move, stating the matter is sub judice and threatening committal proceedings against the police leadership for potential contempt of court.
Police Cite Security Threats for Resumption
In a statement released on Monday, December 16, 2025, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, justified the decision. He pointed to a disturbing rise in criminal activities facilitated by vehicles with unauthorized tinted glass. According to the police, criminals and organized groups exploit the privacy offered by dark tints to conceal their identities while committing armed robbery, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.
Hundeyin clarified that the previous suspension of enforcement was a discretionary act by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to allow motorists time to regularize their permits. He emphasized that this pause was not based on any court order and that no judicial pronouncement restrains the police from acting. "The position remains that enforcement continues until a court directs otherwise," Hundeyin asserted during a briefing with journalists.
NBA Accuses Police of Disregarding Rule of Law
The NBA responded swiftly and sharply to the police's plan. In a statement signed by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, the association labeled the planned resumption an affront to the authority of the courts. The NBA revealed that its Section on Public Interest and Development Law had already filed Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1821/2025 at the Federal High Court in Abuja on September 2, 2025, challenging the policy's constitutionality. Hearing in that case has concluded, and judgment is reserved.
Furthermore, the NBA cited an order from the Federal High Court, Warri Division, in Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/103/2025, which directed parties to maintain the status quo. The association stated that this order and public outcry led to a meeting where police authorities agreed to suspend enforcement pending the cases' outcomes.
"Any contrary executive action amounts to overreaching the Court and undermines the rule of law," the NBA stated, referencing the Supreme Court decision in Governor of Lagos State v. Ojukwu. The association warned it would not hesitate to initiate committal proceedings against the IGP and the Force spokesperson if enforcement proceeds.
Security Incidents Fuel Police Stance
The police defended its hardline position by referencing specific violent incidents. Hundeyin highlighted a recent attack in Edo State, where occupants of a tinted Lexus SUV allegedly opened fire on officers at a checkpoint, resulting in the death of a police inspector. He argued that criminals have taken advantage of the enforcement pause, making the resumption a necessary security measure.
This dispute revives a long-standing institutional conflict between the police and the legal community over the limits of police powers and respect for judicial processes. With the January 2, 2026 deadline approaching, Nigerian motorists are caught in the middle, awaiting a clear resolution from either the courts or a political intervention, which the NBA has requested from President Bola Tinubu.
