Police Clarify Court Ruling, Say No Order Stopping Tinted Glass Enforcement

The Nigeria Police Force has denied claims that it is defying a court order by enforcing the tinted glass permit policy, describing such assertions as a misinterpretation of a court ruling. According to the Force spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, the police are not restrained by any court order from enforcing the policy.

In a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, Hundeyin explained that a court order cited by many merely directed the maintenance of the status quo at the time it was issued, when enforcement of the policy was already ongoing. He added that the court did not grant a request to stop the enforcement.

“The injunction spoke about maintaining the status quo. At the time that order was given, enforcement was ongoing, and the court said the status quo should be maintained,” Hundeyin said. He emphasized that the subsequent suspension of the policy in October 2025 was not based on any court directive but followed consultations between the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

The NBA had threatened to file a contempt suit against Egbetokun after the police reintroduced enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy on Monday. Hundeyin noted that no specific timeline was attached to the suspension and that the police had hoped the legal process would be concluded within that period.

The police spokesperson cited a recent incident in Benin City, Edo State, where a police officer was killed during a pursuit of a fully tinted vehicle, as a reason for reinstating enforcement. He said the prolonged court case had created a security gap that criminal elements were exploiting.

The police have maintained that the enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy is aimed at addressing security concerns, and Hundeyin urged the public to comply with the policy. The move has sparked controversy, with the NBA accusing the police of disregarding the rule of law.