NPF Awaits Formal Court Notice on Tinted Glass Permit Ruling

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) says it has not been officially served with the recent court order directing it to maintain the status quo in the ongoing legal battle over the enforcement of tinted glass permits.

Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, made this known on Saturday via X, responding to a post by human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong, who had announced that a Federal High Court in Warri ordered the police to halt enforcement actions pending further hearing.

Police React to Court Order

Hundeyin clarified that while reports of the court’s interim directive were circulating online, the police had yet to receive formal notification of the ruling. He shared excerpts from the court document, explaining that although the plaintiff’s three major injunctions were denied, the court directed all parties to preserve the status quo until the next hearing on October 16.

“While we have not been officially served the court order you’re making reference to, let me, in the meantime, show point number eight (of the same order) since you left that part out and focused only on point number six. Nigerians deserve a complete picture, not a skewed one,” Hundeyin wrote.

The Warri court’s decision, confirmed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kunle Edun, marks an important moment in the ongoing debate over the legality of the tinted glass permit policy introduced by the police earlier this year.

Enforcement Continues in Niger State

Despite the court’s directive, enforcement efforts remain active in some parts of the country. The Niger State Police Command has commenced verification exercises in Minna, led by Commissioner of Police Adamu Elleman. Officers were seen stopping vehicles with tinted windows to confirm compliance with the permit requirement.

Elleman said the measure is not punitive but aimed at strengthening national security, as criminals often use tinted vehicles to conceal their identities. He urged officers to act with professionalism and courtesy while stressing that ignorance of the law would not excuse violations.

The tinted glass permit policy, introduced in April 2025, requires motorists to apply for annual authorization from the Nigeria Police Force. However, it has faced widespread criticism from motorists and rights advocates, including a lawsuit filed by the Nigerian Bar Association challenging its legality.