NIGERIA: NBA Warns Police Against Enforcing Tinted Glass Permit Policy, Threatens Contempt Proceedings

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

The Nigerian Bar Association’s Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) has warned the Nigeria Police Force against proceeding with the enforcement of its recently introduced tinted glass permit policy, describing such action as a blatant disregard for the authority of the court.

In a letter dated October 1, 2025, and addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, the body noted that a suit challenging the legality and constitutionality of the policy is currently pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Signed by Prof. Paul Ananaba, SAN (Chairman, NBA-SPIDEL), Olukunle O. Edun, SAN (Chairman, Public Interest Litigation Committee), and Okey Leo Ohagba, Esq. (Secretary), the letter urged the IGP to respect the judicial process and suspend enforcement of the tinted glass policy until the court decides on its legality.

The case, Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association v. Inspector General of Police & Anor (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1821/2025), was filed on September 25, 2025, alongside an application for interlocutory injunction.

Despite this, NBA-SPIDEL expressed concern that statements from the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, and some state police commands indicated that the police intended to begin enforcement of the policy on October 2, 2025.

Quoting judicial precedents, including the landmark Supreme Court decision in Military Governor of Lagos State v. Ojukwu (1986), NBA-SPIDEL insisted that once a motion for injunction has been filed and served, parties are legally bound to maintain the status quo until the court delivers a ruling.

“The rule of law and the rule of force are mutually exclusive—law rules by reason and morality, force rules by violence and immorality,” the statement read, warning that the police must not foist “a situation of helplessness” on the court.

NBA-SPIDEL accused Hundeyin of contemptuous conduct by making public statements suggesting the Force would ignore the pending litigation.

The association threatened to initiate contempt proceedings against him if he continued “clear utterances meant to downplay the authority of the court.”

The group also cautioned the Officer-in-Charge of the Directorate of Legal Services, AIG Ohiozoba Ehiede, to give proper legal advice to the police leadership. Failure to do so, it said, could expose him to disciplinary proceedings before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.