The Nigerian Bar Association has issued a stern warning to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, threatening committal proceedings for contempt of court if the Force proceeds with enforcing tinted glass permits from 2nd January 2026.
The escalating confrontation centres on what the NBA describes as a flagrant disregard for an existing court undertaking and democratic principles, whilst the Nigeria Police Force maintains that security imperatives necessitate resuming the enforcement of the Motor Tinted Glass (Prohibition) Act of 1991.
NBA President Afam Osigwe, SAN, delivered a scathing rebuke of the police announcement on Tuesday, describing it as evidence of the Force’s “troubling disregard for the rule of law.” According to Osigwe, the decision to reactivate enforcement contradicts a solemn agreement reached between the NBA and the IGP in October, under which enforcement was suspended pending judicial determination of Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1821/2025.
“The press release dated 15th December 2025, issued by Benjamin Hundeyin, announcing reactivation 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,” Osigwe stated.
The NBA’s position received judicial acknowledgment on 12th December 2025, when the matter came before Honourable Justice M.S. Liman at the Federal High Court, Abuja. During proceedings, Chief Ayotunde Ogunleye, SAN, informed the court of the suspension agreement, prompting the court to strike out the Motion for Interlocutory Injunction based on the undertaking provided by the defendants’ counsel.
Osigwe characterised the police’s subsequent announcement as “a reckless overreach, a contemptuous disregard for the authority of the Court, and a serious assault on institutional integrity.” He warned that should enforcement proceed, the NBA would be compelled to initiate committal proceedings against both the IGP and Force Public Relations Officer Hundeyin, which could result in imprisonment for contempt.
The NBA’s fundamental objection rests on its assertion that the 1991 Act is a relic of military rule that fails to meet constitutional standards in a democratic society. The association has branded the policy “unconstitutional, illegal, and extortionate,” expressing concerns that its implementation would “initiate disorder and extortion, given the Nigeria Police’s long and sordid history of extortion, bribery, harassment, intimidation, and extra-judicial killings.”
In response to the impending enforcement, the NBA has directed all its branches and the Human Rights Committee to provide immediate legal representation to any Nigerian who faces harassment, arrest, vehicle impoundment, or prosecution over tinted glass permits.
“The NBA will not allow citizens to be subjected to intimidation or abuse under a policy currently before the courts,” Osigwe declared.
However, Force spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin has defended the decision to resume enforcement, citing escalating security threats. He referenced a recent incident in Edo State where a police inspector was killed after officers attempted to stop a fully tinted Lexus SUV whose occupants opened fire during a pursuit.
“Just two weeks ago in Edo State, the police attempted to stop a Lexus SUV with fully tinted windows. The occupants refused to stop, and a pursuit ensued. When the vehicle was eventually stopped, it veered to a corner. As the police approached, the occupants opened fire on the officers. One officer died instantly an inspector of police,” Hundeyin explained, adding that such incidents underscore the security imperative behind the policy.
Hundeyin emphasised that the original suspension was voluntary rather than court-mandated, undertaken in response to NBA’s appeal and to allow Nigerians time to regularise their documentation. He maintained that the police, as the nation’s foremost security agency, cannot “fold our arms and watch things degenerate” in the face of armed robbery and kidnapping linked to vehicles with unauthorised tinted glass.
Addressing concerns about the policy’s fees, Hundeyin clarified that charges are intended to maintain a secure online database at posap.gov.ng, which stores confidential information including phone numbers, National Identification Numbers, home addresses, and dates of birth.
“It is not a money-making venture or a revenue-generating drive. It is about ensuring safety and security for Nigerians,” he stated, noting that the website’s .gov.ng extension confirms federal government authorisation.
The confrontation highlights broader tensions between civil liberties and security concerns in Nigeria, where citizens have long complained about police extortion at checkpoints whilst law enforcement agencies grapple with genuine security challenges. The Motor Tinted Glass (Prohibition) Act was originally enacted during military rule to prevent criminals from using tinted vehicles to conceal weapons and plan attacks, but critics argue its application in a democratic dispensation requires legislative review.
