NBA, Police disagree over enforcement of tinted-glass permit

The leadership of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the police high command on Tuesday locked horns over the Force headquarters’ plan to commence enforcement of tinted-glass permit on January 2, 2026.

While the NBA lampooned the force for allegedly waving the judicial process on the matter aside, the police maintained that at no point did any court order it to stop the enforcement, nor did it receive any court papers.

Daily Trust reports that the police had in October suspended the enforcement of tinted-glass permit, saying the consideration was done on compassionate grounds to ensure motorists apply.

The suspension came after the NBA, through its Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), instituted an action before the Federal High Court, Abuja, in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1821/2025 on September 2, 2025.

Reacting to the announcement made by the police on Monday regarding January 2 enforcement, the NBA, in a statement by its President, Afam Osigwe, described the move by the police as “executive recklessness”.

He revealed that the payment proceeds from the policy go directly into a private bank account (PARKWAY PROJECTS with Account No: 4001017918) instead of the Treasury Single Account.

Osigwe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said this raised serious concerns of transparency and corruption, and that the move would add to the multiplicity of taxes and taxing agencies in Nigeria, as well as the high corporate tax burden on businesses.

He said, “A press release dated 15th December 2025, issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, announcing the reactivation of the enforcement of the suspended tinted glass permit policy with effect from 2nd January 2026, has once again confirmed the sad reality that the Nigeria Police Force, despite being the foremost law enforcement agency in Nigeria, continues to exhibit a troubling disregard for the rule of law and the due process it is constitutionally mandated to uphold.

“The press release not only amounts to executive recklessness but also portrays the Nigeria Police Force and its leadership as lacking in respect for the court, the rule of law, and due process of law.”

The senior lawyer argued that the permit policy undermined Nigeria’s tax reforms, which will come into effect in January 2026, adding that it was a grave affront to the majesty of the court and a subversion of the rule of law.

He said, “The policy brazenly nullifies already issued permits, and the purported requirement for renewal of the permits has no legal basis.

“The court processes were duly served on the Defendants, including the Inspector General of Police, who briefed a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Ayotunde Ogunleye, SAN, to represent them in the suit.

“Meanwhile, on 3rd October 2025, the Federal High Court, Warri Division, issued an order directing parties to maintain the status quo in Suit No: FHC/WR/CS/103/2025 between John Aikpokpo-Martins v. Inspector General of Police, thereby restraining the Police from enforcing the policy pending the determination of a Motion for Interlocutory Injunction.”

But in a swift reaction to the NBA’s grouse, the Force Spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin insisted that no court ordered the police not to commence the enforcement of the tinted-glass permit nationwide.

Hundeyin, a Chief Superintendent of Police, while fielding questions from journalists during a press briefing at the IRT headquarters on Tuesday, explained that non-enforcement of the tinted-glass permit had aggravated criminalities across the country.

He said, “We would like to put this on record. We have said this before and we’ll say it again. We would like to put this on record that at no point did any court restrain the Nigeria Police Force from enforcing the tinted glass permit policy.

“What we have out there is people misinterpreting that last court paper that came out. That injunction talked about maintaining state law school. I don’t want to go into technicalities, but it’s talking about maintaining status quo.

“At the time that order was given, the status quo as at then was enforcement, not pre-enforcement. Enforcement was ongoing and the court said maintain status quo.

“In fact, the court said specifically that the request, the prayer of that lawyer that came to court seeking that it should be stopped, would not be granted yet. It’s stated there. The document is out there.

“So, the status quo was to continue with the enforcement which was already on ground, but we had a meeting with NBA where the IGP decided to toe the path of care, the path of listening and being concerned, and he gave that directive that the tinted glass permit policy be suspended.

“That suspension was not based on any court order. It was based on the Nigeria Police Force being responsible and being responsive to the yearnings of the people, being responsive to the appeal by the NBA. So, when we announced that suspension, there was no timeframe to it.

“So until the court makes a clear pronouncement, we will continue enforcement of this tinted permit policy.”

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