The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has criticised the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) over its plan to resume enforcement of the suspended tinted glass permit policy from January 2, 2026, calling the move a blatant disregard for the rule of law.
The police had announced the resumption on Monday through Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, citing rising vehicle-related crimes and the need to protect citizens.
Reacting, NBA President Afam Osigwe accused the police of executive recklessness, saying the decision to reactivate enforcement while the matter is before the court undermines judicial authority. He added that the press release confirmed the police’s consistent failure to respect due process and the courts.
The NBA noted that it filed a suit challenging the legality of the tinted glass policy at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on September 2, 2025. The association described the policy as unconstitutional, illegal, and extortionate, imposing financial obligations on Nigerians without lawful backing.
Expressing concern over the police’s announcement just one working day after the court relied on the defendants’ counsel’s undertaking, the NBA described it as reckless, contemptuous, and an assault on institutional integrity. It warned that the action could impose financial hardship for the benefit of private business interests.
The NBA has called on the Inspector General of Police to immediately withdraw the statement and halt all enforcement plans pending the court’s final determination. It directed its branches and Human Rights Committee to provide legal support to anyone affected by the policy and warned that committal and professional disciplinary proceedings would follow if the directive is ignored.
Citing the Supreme Court ruling in Governor of Lagos State v. Ojukwu (1986), the NBA stressed that undertakings given in court are binding and any action contrary to them is an overreach. The association also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene to prevent undue financial hardship and preserve the authority of the courts.