Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) files lawsuit against IGP, EGBETOKUN, over tinted glass permit policy

Saturday, September 6, 2025 -The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has filed a lawsuit against the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over the tinted glass permit policy, describing the initiative as illegal.

In April 2025, the IGP introduced a policy requiring motorists to obtain annual permits from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for vehicles with tinted windows, processed through a newly launched digital portal.

The NBA said the policy violates citizens’ rights and raised questions over the validity of the Motor Tinted Glass (Prohibition) Act (Decree 1991), a military-era law under which the Police have justified the regulation.

“Against the above backdrop, the Nigerian Bar Association, through its Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL), has on Wednesday, September 2, 2025, instituted a public interest action before the Federal High Court, Abuja in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/182/2025 between the Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association v. The Inspector General of Police & Anor essentially challenging the legality of the tinted glass permit policy,” the NBA said in a statement on Friday

The statement added: “The NBA-SPIDEL under the leadership of its Transition Committee Chairman, Prof. Paul Ananaba, SAN, and the Section’s Public Interest Litigation Committee chaired by Olukunle Ogheneovo Edun, SAN, whose proactive efforts were responsible for the accomplishment of this task, has been directed to pursue this litigation to a logical conclusion.

The NBA outlined concerns that the policy has already led to harassment and extortion at checkpoints, violating constitutional rights including privacy, freedom of movement, and ownership of property.

The association also highlighted transparency issues, noting that payments for the permits are being made into a private account, rather than the Treasury Single Account of the federal government.

The policy initially set enforcement to begin on June 1, 2025, but the date was later extended to October 2, 2025. Despite the delay, reported incidents of misconduct by police officers at checkpoints have continued.

The NBA warned that the law underpinning the tinted glass permit may not satisfy the constitutional test for laws “reasonably justifiable in a democratic society” and lacks provisions for permit renewal and fee collection.

“The introduction and proposed enforcement of the tinted glass permit Policy has raised several other genuine concerns including the validity of the Motor Tinted Glass (Prohibition) Act (Decree 1991), a military-era law under which the Police has sought refuge,” the NBA statement said.

The association has pledged to pursue the case in court to challenge the legality of the tinted glass permit policy.