The Nigeria Police Force has responded to reports of a Federal High Court order directing it to maintain the status quo in the ongoing case concerning the enforcement of tinted glass permits.
However, the Force clarified that it has not yet been officially served with the order.
The development follows a social media post by human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, who shared a copy of the court order on X (formerly Twitter), stating that the police had been barred from implementing the new tinted glass permit policy.
Reacting to the post, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, took to X to clarify the Force’s position.
He wrote: “While we have not been officially served the court order you’re making reference to, let me, in the meantime, show point no. 8 (of the same order) since you left that part out and focused only on point no. 6. Nigerians deserve a complete picture, not a skewed one.”
Hundeyin pointed out that Point 8 of the court order stated: “Meanwhile, Reliefs 1, 2 and 3 are hereby refused.”
The reliefs, sought by John Aikpokpo-Martins on behalf of tinted glass car owners in Nigeria, were part of Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/103/2025 John Aikpokpo-Martins v. Inspector General of Police & Nigeria Police Force.
They included requests for an injunction stopping the police from implementing the new permit policy and from allegedly harassing or arresting motorists during enforcement.
According to the suit, the new tinted glass permit regulation was scheduled to commence on October 6, 2025, prompting concerns among motorists and human rights advocates about potential abuse and extortion.
Meanwhile, the lawyer had earlier emphasized that the court had ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive case.
In confirming the ruling, Kunle Edun, SAN, lead counsel in the matter, described it as “a major step in upholding the rule of law and protecting the rights of citizens while the substantive issues are yet to be decided.”
Furthermore, Edun reiterated that the order was binding until formally set aside, stressing the importance of judicial compliance in democratic governance.
The Police Force, however, maintained that without formal service of the court order, it could not halt preparations for the scheduled enforcement.
Nevertheless, Hundeyin assured that the police would act in accordance with the law once proper notification was received.
The tinted glass permit enforcement has long been a contentious issue in Nigeria, with motorists raising concerns about alleged extortion and unclear regulations.
