NBA drags police to court over tinted glass permit policy

The Nigerian Bar Association has filed a lawsuit against the Nigeria Police Force, challenging the legality of its newly introduced tinted glass permit policy.

The suit, filed on September 2 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, came after the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on August 23 in Enugu, where members resolved to test the policy in court.

Under the policy, which was announced by the Inspector-General of Police in April, motorists are mandated to obtain annual permits for tinted vehicle glasses through a digital portal operated by a private vendor, with enforcement set to begin on October 2, 2025.

But the NBA, through its Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL), argued that the directive violates citizens’ constitutional rights to dignity, privacy, movement and property.

It also faulted the reliance on the Motor Tinted Glass (Prohibition) Act, a 1991 military decree, insisting it cannot stand the test of constitutionality in a democratic setting.

NBA-SPIDEL further raised concerns about the financial structure of the scheme, questioning why payments for the permits are being routed to a private account belonging to Parkway Projects instead of the Federation Account or the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

Confirming the legal action, Chairman of NBA-SPIDEL, Prof. Paul Ananaba, SAN, said the association is determined to pursue the matter to its logical conclusion.

“We urge the police to respect the judicial process and suspend the enforcement of this policy until the court makes its pronouncement,” Ananaba said.

Reports of harassment and extortion linked to the policy have continued nationwide, despite the extension of its enforcement date.

The case, filed under Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/182/2025, lists the Incorporated Trustees of the NBA as claimant and the Inspector-General of Police as defendant. It is yet to be assigned to a judge.