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The Nigeria Police Force has stated it has not been officially served with the court order concerning the enforcement of tinted glass permits.

Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this on Saturday in response to reports shared by human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong. Effiong had posted on X that the Federal High Court in Warri had ordered the Police to maintain the status quo in the ongoing legal challenge against the tinted glass permit policy.

Hundeyin clarified that while the Police had not received formal notification of the ruling, excerpts from the court order revealed that the plaintiff’s three main injunctions were denied. However, the court directed all parties to preserve the status quo until the next hearing scheduled for October 16.

He criticized selective reporting of the court order, stating, “While we have not been officially served the court order you’re making reference to, let me, in the meantime, show point number eight (of the same order) since you left that part out and focused only on point number six. Nigerians deserve a complete picture, not a skewed one.”

Court’s Interim Order and Legal Reactions

The interim order, issued on Friday, instructed the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector-General to uphold the status quo pending further proceedings. Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kunle Edun, who led the legal team, described the ruling as a significant step in defending the rule of law.

Enforcement Continues in Niger State

Despite the legal developments, the Niger State Police Command has commenced enforcement of the tinted glass permit regulation. On Thursday, Commissioner of Police CP Adamu Elleman personally oversaw operations in Minna, where officers stopped vehicles with tinted windows to verify permit compliance.

CP Elleman met with Divisional Police Officers across the city, urging professionalism and courtesy during enforcement. He praised motorists for their cooperation and emphasized that ignorance of the law would not be accepted as an excuse.

He reiterated that the enforcement was a national security measure, explaining that tinted windows are often used by criminals to conceal identities, adding that the regulation promotes transparency, safety, and accountability on our roads.

Background and Legal Challenge

The tinted glass permit policy was introduced in April 2025 by the Inspector-General of Police, requiring vehicle owners to obtain annual permits for a fee. The policy has sparked widespread debate, with critics calling it burdensome and susceptible to abuse, while security experts defend it as necessary for public safety.

In response, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) filed a lawsuit against the Inspector-General, Kayode Egbetokun, challenging the legality of the policy.