Nigeria Police Force has said it has not been officially served with the Federal High Court order directing it to maintain the status quo in the ongoing case concerning the enforcement of tinted glass permits.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, made this known on Saturday while responding to a social media post by human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong, who shared a copy of the court order on X.
CSP Hundeyin wrote, “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.”
Point eight of the court order states, “Meanwhile, Reliefs 1, 2 and 3 are hereby refused.”
The reliefs were part of the requests filed by legal practitioner John Martins on behalf of tinted glass car owners in Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/103/2025 – John Martins v. Inspector General of Police & Nigeria Police Force.
The applicant had sought injunctions to restrain the police from enforcing the new tinted glass permit policy, stopping or detaining motorists and collecting fees through a specified account pending the determination of the motion on notice.
Effiong had earlier shared excerpts of the ruling, which ordered the police to maintain the status quo and respect judicial processes until the case is determined.
Federal High Court sitting in Warri had on Friday issued an interim order directing the police to maintain the status quo and respect judicial processes pending further proceedings.
Senior advocate of Nigeria Kunle Edun, who led the legal team in the matter, confirmed the development and said the court’s decision was an important step toward upholding the rule of law.
Meanwhile, the Niger State Police Command has commenced enforcement of the tinted glass permit regulation across the state despite the pending court case.
The commissioner of police, CP Adamu Elleman, personally supervised the operation in Minna on Thursday.
Officers were seen stopping vehicles with tinted windows at key locations to verify compliance.
CP Elleman met with Divisional Police Officers and directed them to remain professional, firm and courteous while carrying out the operation.
He commended motorists for their cooperation and said ignorance of the law would not be accepted as an excuse for non-compliance.
He explained that the enforcement was a security measure, adding that criminals often use tinted glass to conceal their identities during unlawful activities.
The policy requiring vehicle owners to obtain annual tinted glass permits was introduced in April by the inspector general of police, Kayode Egbetokun.
The policy has drawn criticism from motorists and rights groups, while some security experts have defended it as necessary for national safety.
The Nigerian Bar Association, through its public interest litigation committee, has filed a suit challenging the legality of the policy.
The next hearing is expected to hold on October 16.
