Police suspend enforcement of tinted glass law after public outcry
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has suspended enforcement of the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, 1991, following mounting public criticism and intervention by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
Force Public Relations Officer CSP Benjamin Hundeyin announced the suspension Thursday in a statement, citing the police’s decision to act “out of consideration for the interest of Nigerians” and respect for the NBA, pending the hearing of a motion on notice fixed for October 16, 2025, at the Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State.
Although Hundeyin said no existing court order explicitly halted enforcement, he confirmed that the police opted to pause the exercise temporarily.
The decision came after a Monday meeting between Egbetokun and an NBA delegation led by its president, Afam Osigwe (SAN), at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
To foster collaboration, Hundeyin said a joint Police–NBA committee had been inaugurated to improve cooperation between both institutions. He urged motorists to use the suspension period to regularize their documentation and comply with laws governing the use of tinted vehicle glass.
Egbetokun reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to enforcing laws “with fairness, transparency, and respect for citizens’ rights.”
NBA officer Olakunle Edun (SAN), who is leading the court case, confirmed that the restraining order had been served on the police and said both parties agreed to maintain the status quo while seeking a lasting resolution.
The suspension follows a Federal High Court order in John Aikpokpo-Martins v. Inspector-General of Police & Nigeria Police Force (Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/103/2025), which directed the police to halt enforcement of tinted glass permits pending the determination of the case.
Despite the ruling, reports indicated that officers in several states, including Cross River, continued impounding vehicles and demanding tinted glass permits. Motorists alleged extortion and harassment, prompting renewed calls for reform.
In Calabar, journalist John Osakwe said he was forced to pay ₦30,000 to retrieve his car after being accused of using tinted glass. Another resident, Edem Udofia, said his commercial bus was seized over factory-fitted windows.
Legal experts, including Senior Advocate of Nigeria Mba Ukweni, condemned the police’s initial defiance of the court order.
“The police must comply fully with the restraining order and stop harassing motorists,” Ukweni said.
Confirming compliance, Federal Capital Territory Police spokesperson Josephine Adeh said the Force had now received the court order and would maintain the suspension.
She added that payments for tinted glass permits are made online through the government’s Treasury Single Account, emphasizing that “police officers are only authorized to verify documentation.”
The suspension marks a major concession by the police amid growing public concern over extortion and rights violations linked to enforcement of the controversial law.