By Sochima Agbo 

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) over its decision to resume enforcement of the suspended tinted glass permit policy from January 2, 2026, describing the move as a threat to the rule of law.

The police, in a statement issued on Monday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the policy would be reactivated following a review of rising vehicle-related crimes, adding that the measure was necessary to address emerging security concerns and ensure public safety.

However, reacting to the announcement, NBA President, Afam Osigwe, accused the police of acting in disregard of due process and ongoing court proceedings. In a statement he signed, Osigwe said the decision amounted to “executive recklessness” and showed a lack of respect for the authority of the courts.

According to the NBA, the tinted glass permit policy is currently the subject of a suit filed on September 2, 2025, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, by the association’s Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL). The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1821/2025, challenges the legality of the policy and questions the power of the police to impose fees or financial obligations on citizens.

The association argued that the policy is unconstitutional, illegal, extortionate, and poses a threat to citizens’ rights and economic well-being. It expressed concern that the police announced the resumption of enforcement barely one working day after a court session in which the defendants’ counsel reportedly gave an undertaking.

Describing the development as a “volte-face,” the NBA said the action amounted to contempt of court and an assault on institutional integrity. It called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to immediately withdraw the statement announcing the resumption of enforcement and halt all related actions pending the final determination of the cases before the courts.

The NBA also directed its branches and Human Rights Committees nationwide to provide legal assistance to any individual harassed, arrested, or prosecuted under the policy. It warned that it would initiate committal proceedings for contempt against the Inspector General of Police and the Force Public Relations Officer if the directive was ignored.

Additionally, the association cautioned that disciplinary action would be taken against any legal practitioner found to have misled the court, stressing that undertakings given by counsel are binding, citing the Supreme Court decision in Governor of Lagos State v. Ojukwu (1986).

The NBA further appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene, warning that the planned enforcement could undermine the authority of the courts and impose unjustified financial hardship on Nigerians.