The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed claims that a court barred it from enforcing the tinted glass permit policy, insisting that no such restraining order exists.
According to the police, a court ruling being cited in public discourse merely directed parties to maintain the status quo at the time, when enforcement was already in effect. Hence, the directive did not halt the policy.
Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the narrative suggesting judicial restriction stemmed from a misreading of the ruling.
He explained that the court declined a request seeking to stop enforcement, thereby allowing ongoing operations to continue.
“At no point was the police restrained by any court from enforcing the tinted glass permit policy,” Hundeyin said.
“The order people refer to did not stop enforcement; it maintained what was already in place.”
Moreover, the police clarified that the temporary suspension announced in October followed consultations with the Nigerian Bar Association and was not based on any court instruction.
Hundeyin noted that the suspension had no fixed duration and was intended to allow legal issues to progress.
He added that prolonged delays in court proceedings created security risks, with criminals exploiting fully tinted vehicles to evade detection.
Citing a recent incident in Benin City, Hundeyin said an officer was killed during a pursuit involving a tinted vehicle.
“Our responsibility is to protect lives and property,” he said. “We cannot ignore security gaps that endanger officers and citizens.”
On the NBA’s threat of contempt proceedings against the Inspector-General of Police, Hundeyin said the force would respond through legal channels once formally served.
Addressing concerns over permit fees, the police maintained that the current system is fully digital, government-approved, and designed to secure sensitive personal data.
Hundeyin stressed that fees support database maintenance and security infrastructure, not revenue generation.
“This is about safety and accountability, not money,” he said. “The platform is government-owned and lawfully authorised.”