The Nigeria Police Force has stated that it has not yet been formally served with the Federal High Court order directing all parties to maintain the status quo in the ongoing legal challenge over the enforcement of tinted glass permits.
Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin—who assumed office in September—clarified on Saturday, October 4, that although reports of the ruling are circulating, the police have not received official notification. Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong had earlier announced on X (formerly Twitter) that a Warri division of the Federal High Court had ordered the police to suspend enforcement actions. However, Hundeyin countered that the court declined to grant the plaintiff’s three main injunctions. He referenced Section 8 of the ruling, which instructs all parties to maintain the status quo pending the next hearing on October 16, accusing some commentators of offering a “skewed picture” of the court’s directive.
The interim order was issued on Friday, October 3, in a suit filed by lawyer John Aikpokpo-Martins against the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force. The legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kunle Edun, described the ruling as a significant step in safeguarding the rule of law.
Despite the ongoing litigation, enforcement has already begun in some states. In Niger State, Commissioner of Police Adamu Elleman personally supervised operations in Minna on Thursday, where officers stopped tinted vehicles to verify compliance.
The controversial tinted glass permit policy was introduced in April 2025 by IGP Kayode Egbetokun. It requires vehicle owners to obtain an annual permit for tinted windows, subject to a prescribed fee. While law enforcement and security experts argue that the regulation is critical for public safety, critics—including motorists and rights organizations—claim it is burdensome and prone to abuse.
The Nigerian Bar Association has also filed a separate suit challenging the legality of the policy, with further hearings scheduled for mid-October.
Commissioner Elleman has urged officers to maintain professionalism and courtesy during enforcement, emphasizing that the checks are not punitive but necessary for security. He added that ignorance of the regulation would not exempt violators from compliance.
