A major legal directive emerged yesterday Friday, October 3, as the Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, ordered the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to suspend the enforcement of the tinted glass permit for vehicle owners.
However, while the rule of law mandates adherence to the Federal High Court’s order suspending enforcement, several state commands have recently announced or commenced full enforcement of the regulations, presenting a conflict between judicial direction and ground operations, including Edo, Delta and Katsina States, reports Saturday Independent.
The court issued this interim order during the opening of the hearing in Suit No. FHC/WR/ CS/103/2025. The lawsuit was instituted by legal practitioner John Aikpokpo-Martins, who approached the court to challenge the legality of the new tinted permit enforcement.
In its decision, the court explicitly asked the police and the IGP to maintain the status quo and commanded the police authorities to “respect judicial processes pending further proceedings in the matter”.
Senior Advocate Kunle Edun, who led the petitioner’s legal team, confirmed the development, emphasising that the directive is a crucial measure “in ensuring that the rule of law is upheld while the substantive issues in the case are being determined”.
This judicial intervention follows months of public criticism regarding the policy, with motorists voicing concerns over harassment, extortion at checkpoints, and the fairness of demanding permits, particularly for factory-fitted tinted windows.
The police had defended the policy as lawful, citing the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act of 1991 and national security concerns.
The enforcement of the ban on unauthorised use of sirens and the tinted glass permit regulations began in the Zone Five Police Command, which is located in the South-south Geo-political Zone and comprises Edo and Delta states.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone Five, Salma-Dogo Garba, stated that the exercise is in line with existing laws and directives from the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. The enforcement applies to all vehicles with tinted glass, regardless of whether they are factory or non-factory fitted.
Motorists with tinted glass were strongly advised to register their vehicles and obtain permits at www.possap.gov.ng and subsequently proceed to their state command headquarters for physical verification. Alternatively, those not desiring a permit were advised to remove the tint or replace factory-fitted tinted glasses with transparent ones, as legally provided by the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act 2004.
Prior to the court’s suspension order, the Delta State Police Command had announced that it would begin full enforcement of the regulations effective Thursday, October 2, 2025.
AIG Garba warned field operatives and supervisory officers in the Zone Five Command to execute the exercise with “utmost professionalism, devoid of any form of harassment or extortion of motorists,” stressing that any officer found wanting would be sanctioned.
The Katsina State Police Command has also commenced enforcement of the Vehicle Tinted Glass Permit Regulations. DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, the state Police Public Relations Officer, released a statement on Friday, urging motorists to comply to avoid embarrassment across the state. Aliyu noted that the enforcement is aimed at enhancing public safety and security.
The Commissioner of Police for the Katsina State Command, CP Bello Shehu, cautioned officers against any form of unprofessionalism, including incivility to members of the public, harassment, intimidation, or extortion during the enforcement exercise. He called on the public to cooperate with officers and report any uncivil behaviour to the command.
