The Nigeria Police Force has declared that it is yet to be formally served with the Federal High Court’s interim order that restrains it from enforcing tinted-glass permit requirements on vehicles.
The announcement comes amid rising legal and public pressure over the tinted-glass permit policy.
In a statement this morning, Force Public Relations Officer CSP Benjamin Hundeyin revealed that although a court has directed the police to suspend enforcement and “maintain status quo,” the Force has not received any official service of that order.
“While we have not been officially served the court order you’re referring to, let me, in the meantime, show point number eight (of the same order) … Nigerians deserve a complete picture, not a skewed one,” Hundeyin posted on his X account.
What the Court Ordered
The matter arises from Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/103/2025, filed by human rights lawyer John Aikpokpo-Martins against the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force.
In its ruling on Friday, the Federal High Court, sitting in Warri, Delta State, issued an interim injunction ordering the police to suspend enforcement of the tinted glass permit regime pending the determination of the substantive case. The Court also directed that the status quo be preserved, barring any action against motorists with vehicle windows that have tint.
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The tinted-glass permit scheme was revived by the Nigeria Police Force in April 2023 through its Police Specialised Services Automation Project (POSSAP) after being suspended in 2022. The police maintain that the policy is anchored in the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, 1991, and defend it on grounds of national security, arguing that criminals often exploit vehicles with highly opaque glass to evade detection.
Critics, however, argue that the blanket application of the tinted permit requirement violates constitutional rights, including privacy and freedom of movement, and that the permit system is prone to abuse and harassment by security agents.
The legal challenge raised whether the police have acted within the statutory limits established by the relevant law, which allows tinted permits only “for good cause,” such as medical or security reasons.
Despite the court’s order, reports suggest that police units in some states have continued impounding vehicles for non-compliance. One report notes that 210 vehicles have been seized across six states even after the court ruling.
The tension between the court’s directive and ground-level actions highlights the uncertainty many motorists now face.
The police’s refusal or inability to halt enforcement until they are formally served the court order raises questions about procedural technicalities and the interplay between judicial authority and police operations.
