The Nigeria Police Force has said it was never restrained by any court from enforcing the tinted glass permit policy, dismissing claims to the contrary as a misreading of a court ruling.
Force spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja while responding to questions on the Nigerian Bar Association’s (NBA) threat to institute contempt proceedings against the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
The NBA had issued the threat following the police decision to resume enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy on Monday, after it was suspended in October 2025.
Hundeyin explained that the court order frequently cited merely directed the maintenance of the status quo at the time it was issued, when enforcement of the policy was already in effect.
He said the court did not grant the request seeking a halt to enforcement.
“At no point did any court restrain the Nigeria Police Force from enforcing the tinted glass permit policy,” Hundeyin said. “What we have is a misinterpretation of the court document. That order spoke about maintaining the status quo.”
According to him, enforcement was ongoing when the order was made, and the court expressly declined the request to stop it.
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“At the time the order was issued, enforcement was already ongoing, and the court directed that the status quo be maintained. The document clearly stated that the request to stop enforcement would not be granted at that point,” he said.
Hundeyin added that the subsequent suspension of the policy was not based on any judicial directive, but followed consultations between the Inspector-General of Police and the NBA.
He noted that no timeline was attached to the suspension and that the police had anticipated that the legal process would be concluded within that period.
“The suspension was a product of engagement, listening and concern by the IGP. It was not based on any court order,” he said.
He added that the police acted in response to public concerns and appeals by the NBA, stressing that the suspension was open-ended.
“At no point did we say the suspension would last until a specific time. We hoped the court case would reach a logical conclusion. The policy was suspended to give Nigerians time to regularise their documents and await the outcome of the case,” Hundeyin said.
Explaining the decision to resume enforcement, he said the prolonged court process had created a security vacuum that criminals were exploiting.
He cited an incident in Benin City, Edo State, about two weeks ago, where police officers attempted to stop a fully tinted vehicle, leading to a chase during which an officer was killed.
“In Edo State, officers attempted to stop a fully tinted Lexus SUV. The occupants refused to stop and a pursuit followed,” he said.
“When the vehicle was eventually cornered, the occupants opened fire on the officers. An inspector of police was killed instantly. The fully tinted vehicle made it impossible to detect that the occupants were armed. This and many similar cases underscore the danger,” he said.
Hundeyin said the police would not allow criminal activities to escalate under the guise of legal ambiguity, noting that the Force’s mandate remained the protection of lives and property.
On the NBA’s contempt threat, he said the police would respond through its Legal Directorate once officially served with court papers.
“We are yet to be served with any papers. Once that happens, our Legal Directorate will respond appropriately. Until then, it remains hearsay,” he said.
Addressing concerns about revenue from the permit process, Hundeyin said the current system differs significantly from the old manual process, as it is fully digital and hosted on a secure government platform.
He explained that the fees charged are used to maintain the database, security architecture and technology infrastructure, including biometric systems that allow Nigerians at home and abroad to apply securely.
Hundeyin rejected claims that the policy or its payment structure was unlawful, insisting that all necessary approvals were obtained before implementation.
He said the official government website hosting the platform was proof that the system had been duly ratified.
“This is a departure from the old manual, paper-based system. Everything is now online, and sensitive personal information is stored on a secure database,” he said.
He noted that advanced security layers, biometric submissions, encryption certificates and firewalls required continuous funding to protect users’ data.
“These technologies do not come cheap, and many require yearly renewal. The fees are strictly for running and sustaining the system. This is not a revenue drive,” Hundeyin said.
He added that the use of a government domain underscored the legality of the process.
“The platform is hosted on a government website, posap.gov.ng. If it were illegal, it would not carry a .gov.ng extension. The entire process was approved by the Federal Government before launch,” he said.
