Court bars Police from enforcing tinted glass permit policy nationwide

A Delta State High Court has issued an ex parte injunction restraining the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) from commencing the nationwide enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy.

Justice Joe Egwu granted the restraining order on Wednesday, pending the hearing and determination of a substantive suit challenging the policy.

The suit was filed by Israel Joe against the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Commissioner of Police in Delta State as first, second and third defendants respectively.

In the application, the claimant urged the court to restrain the defendants and their officers from stopping, harassing, arresting, detaining or extorting motorists under the guise of enforcing the tinted glass permit policy. He argued that such actions violate citizens’ constitutional rights to dignity of the human person, privacy, freedom of movement and ownership of property.

The applicant also sought an order barring the police from using the Parkway Projects account — described as that of a private contractor — to conduct any government-related transactions pending the determination of the suit.

After listening to submissions by the applicant’s counsel, Kunle Edun, the court granted all the prayers contained in the ex parte application.

Justice Egwu subsequently fixed December 24 for the hearing of the motion on notice.

Background

The injunction comes days after the Nigeria Police Force announced that enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy would resume nationwide from January 2, 2026, citing a rise in vehicle-related crimes.

The announcement had sparked strong reactions, with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) accusing the police of acting in disregard of an existing court order and describing the move as “executive recklessness.”

The NBA warned that the police action undermines respect for the rule of law and due process.

In response, the police insisted that there was no subsisting court order declaring the tinted glass permit policy unlawful or permanently restraining the force from enforcing it.

The latest court order now places a temporary legal halt on the enforcement pending further proceedings.