The Nigeria Police Force has issued a detailed response to recent criticism from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), forcefully denying any act of contempt of court regarding its Motor Vehicle Tinted Glass Permit Policy and re-stating the legal foundations for its enforcement.
In a press statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, on December 19, 2025, the Police addressed commentary attributed to the NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, asserting that its operations remain strictly within constitutional and statutory limits.
โThe Nigeria Police Force has neither acted nor intends to act in contempt of court. Respect for the judiciary and adherence to due process remain non-negotiable pillars of police governance,โ the statement read, under the leadership of Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun.
The Force clarified that the regulation is not an arbitrary policy but is rooted in the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004. It cited Section 2(3)(a) of the Act, which vests the Inspector-General of Police with the statutory authority to issue permits, and Section 1(2), which requires applicants to provide legitimate security or health-related justifications.
The Police emphasized that the policy is a public safety measure, designed to curb the use of vehicles with obscured windows in committing crimes like kidnapping, armed robbery, and terrorism.
Addressing allegations that the policy is a revenue-generating scheme, the Force stated it is โnot a revenue-generating organisation,โ but is empowered by Section 26(1)(f) of the Police Act, 2020 to receive funds incidental to its statutory functions. It explained that the permit process operates under an automated Public-Private Partnership (PPP) โ the Police Specialized Services Automation Project โ approved by the Federal Executive Council in July 2022.
The statement strongly refuted the NBA Presidentโs claim that payments were made into a private account, describing it as โentirely false.โ It clarified that its partner, Parkway Projects Limited, is a Central Bank of Nigeria-licensed Payment Services Provider, and that the referenced number is a transaction identifier, not a private bank account.
The Police recalled that its earlier suspension of enforcement was a โvoluntary act of courtesyโ following stakeholder engagements, not a result of any judicial restraint. It acknowledged pending suits, including Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1821/2025 where judgment is reserved, and affirmed it would not take steps to pre-empt judicial outcomes.
โFor the avoidance of doubt, no court has issued a restraining order against the Nigeria Police Force on this matter,โ the statement asserted, noting that an application for an interim injunction was refused by the Federal High Court in Warri.
The Force warned that it would not โexpend valuable time responding to ignorant and mischievous claims,โ but reassured that any enforcement would be โprofessional, measured, and rights-compliant.โ It vowed severe sanctions for any officer involved in extortion or harassment, while cautioning against using individual misconduct to malign the entire institution.
The Nigeria Police Force concluded by calling for calm and responsible public discourse, reiterating its commitment to professionalism, transparency, and its constitutional mandate to safeguard lives and property.
Discussion about this post