The Federal High Court in Delta State has ordered the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to suspend enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy pending further proceedings.
Gatekeepers News reports that the order was issued on Friday in a suit filed by lawyer Aikpokpo-Martins against the NPF and the inspector-general of police, challenging the legality of the initiative.
Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong confirmed the development in a statement shared on X. This case is separate from the one instituted by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
NBA, through its Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL), had earlier argued that the policy infringes on the constitutional rights to dignity, privacy, freedom of movement, and property.
It also questioned the policy’s legal foundation, noting that the police appear to rely on the Motor Tinted Glass (Prohibition) Act of 1991, a decree from the military era, which the association said does not meet democratic constitutional standards.
In response, police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin insisted that the NBA’s stance was misleading and aimed at discrediting the force.
He cited Section 2(3a) of the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, 2004, which empowers the inspector-general of police or his delegate to grant permits where justified by security or health concerns.
The controversial policy, initially slated for June 1 but later shifted to October 2, mandates motorists to apply annually for tinted glass permits via a digital portal.
Despite pending suits, some police commands had already issued reminders about their enforcement starting October 2.
