The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) yesterday told the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) that no court order restrained the police from enforcing the Tinted Glass Permit policy.
Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Benjamin Hundeyin, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), stated this in Abuja while addressing journalists on the NBA’s threat to initiate a contempt suit against the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun.
The NBA had issued the threat following the reactivation of the tinted glass permit enforcement on Monday, after the policy was suspended in October.
The Force PRO explained that the court order being widely referenced merely directed that the status quo be maintained at the time it was issued, when enforcement of the policy was already ongoing.
“We would like to put this on record. At no point did any court restrain the Nigeria Police Force from enforcing the tinted glass permit policy,” Hundeyin said.
The FPRO clarified that the injunction did not approve the request seeking to halt enforcement.
“What we have is people misinterpreting the last court document that was issued. That injunction spoke about maintaining the status quo. I don’t want to go into technicalities.
“At the time that order was given, enforcement was ongoing, and the court said the status quo should be maintained. In fact, the court stated specifically that the request by the lawyer who approached the court, seeking that the enforcement be stopped, would not be granted at that point. The document is out there. So, the status quo meant that enforcement, which was already ongoing, should continue,” he said.
Hundeyin noted that the subsequent suspension of the policy was not the result of any court ruling but followed consultations between the IGP and the NBA.
“However, we later had a meeting with the NBA, where the IGP decided to take the path of care, listening and concern, and consequently directed that the tinted glass permit policy be suspended. That suspension was not based on any court order.”
“It was based on the Nigeria Police Force being responsible and responsive to the yearnings of the people, and responsive to the appeal by the NBA,” Hundeyin added.
The police spokesperson stressed that no duration was attached to the suspension, adding that the Force had expected the court matter to be resolved within the period.
“When we announced that suspension, there was no time frame attached to it. At no point did we say it would last until a specific time.
“We simply suspended it at that point. In fact, we hoped that the court case would have reached a logical conclusion within that period. If you recall that statement, we said the policy was suspended to give Nigerians room to regularise their documentation and to await the outcome of the court case,” he said.
Security concerns drive enforcement reinstatement
Beaming light on the decision to resume enforcement, Hundeyin said the prolonged legal process had created a security gap that criminal elements were exploiting.
“The case has dragged on, and during that period, criminal elements have confidently used tinted vehicles to perpetrate crimes,” he said, citing an incident in Benin City, Edo State, about two weeks ago.
“Just two weeks ago in Edo State, the police attempted to stop a Lexus SUV with fully tinted windows. The occupants refused to stop, and a pursuit ensued.
“When the vehicle was eventually stopped, it veered to a corner. As the police approached, the occupants opened fire on the officers. One officer died instantly — an inspector of police. They were able to do this easily because the vehicle was fully tinted. From the outside, you could not see that they were armed. This and many other cases underscore the issue. The mandate of the police is to protect life and property. We will not fold our arms and watch things degenerate,” he said.
Hundeyin also addressed the NBA’s contempt threat, noting that the police would respond through its Legal Directorate once formally served.
“We are yet to be served with any court papers. We will not act based on what you have just told us. Once any papers are served, we have a Legal Directorate.
“Once the papers arrive, we will respond accordingly. For now, it is hearsay, and I will not speak on hearsay,” he said.
Responding to concerns about revenue from the tinted glass permit process, Hundeyin said the current system differs significantly from the previous manual process, as it is now fully digital and hosted on a secure government platform.
“This system is a departure from the old tinted permit system, which was manual and paper-based. This time, the process is entirely online through a secure website,” he said.
Hundeyin added that the fees collected are used to maintain the database, security infrastructure, and advanced technology required to protect sensitive personal information.
“To operate a website or database that stores confidential information, such as phone numbers, NINs, home addresses, and dates of birth, you need additional layers of security. These do not come free or cheap,” Hundeyin said.
The FPRO said the system allows Nigerians in the diaspora to submit biometric data remotely, including photographs, facial scans, and fingerprints, noting that such technology requires constant investment.
“Security certificates, such as SSL and firewalls, require yearly renewal. Some may be one-off payments, but many require annual renewal.
“We are protecting Nigerians’ information with these advanced systems, and these systems require ongoing maintenance. That is what the fees are for—to run and sustain the database. It is not a money-making venture or a revenue-generating drive. It is about ensuring safety and security for Nigerians,” he said.
Hundeyin dismissed claims that the policy or its payment process was unlawful, stating that all required approvals were obtained before implementation.
He said: “You can see that the website is a government website — posap.gov.ng. If anything were illegal, it would not carry a .gov.ng extension. The Federal Government itself created the website. All aspects of the system—the process, from beginning to end—were ratified by the government before it was launched.”
