Police tinted-glass permit court order stalls enforcement as Force says it’s yet to be served with ruling halting arrests of motorists
Police tinted-glass permit court order has become a topic of public debate after the Nigeria Police Force said it had not yet been formally served with the ruling that stopped it from enforcing tinted-glass regulations.
Also read: ‘Tackling insecurity’ Obiano bans tinted-glass vehicles, covered number plates
The clarification followed widespread reports that the Federal High Court had restrained the police from arresting or prosecuting motorists over the use of tinted vehicle windows.
The order, issued on Friday in Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/103/2025: John Aikpokpo-Martins v. Inspector-General of Police & Nigeria Police Force, directed the police to suspend the enforcement of tinted-glass permits until the substantive case is decided.
According to the court, both parties were to maintain the status quo, meaning no further arrests or enforcement actions should occur until the matter is concluded.
However, reacting on Saturday via his official handle on X (formerly Twitter), the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the police had not yet been officially served the court order.
“While we have not been officially served the court order you’re making reference to, let me, in the meantime, show point number eight (of the same order) since you left that part out and focused only on point number six.
Nigerians deserve a complete picture, not a skewed one,” Hundeyin wrote.
His comment was in response to human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong, who had shared excerpts of the ruling restraining the police from enforcing the regulation.
The police had resumed the tinted-glass permit scheme in April 2023 under the Police Specialised Services Automation Project (POSSAP) after its suspension in 2022, saying it was aimed at improving transparency and security compliance.
Also read: Nigeria tinted glass permit enforcement silence fuels anxiety among motorists
The latest court decision, however, puts the enforcement of the policy on hold, pending further legal clarification.
