The Nigeria Police Force has seized at least 210 vehicles across the country for alleged violations of the tinted glass permit rule — despite a Federal High Court order temporarily halting enforcement.
The court, sitting in Warri, Delta State, on Friday directed the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to suspend enforcement and “respect judicial processes pending further proceedings in the matter.” The order followed a suit filed by legal practitioner John Aikpokpo-Martins challenging the legality of the new tinted permit regulation.
However, reports from several states indicate that police commands have continued the crackdown. In Akwa Ibom, 88 vehicles were impounded and are being held pending presentation of permits by their owners. In Borno, 30 cars were seized, while 20 each were taken in Gombe and Jigawa. Sokoto police confiscated 27 vehicles during operations on Thursday and Friday.
Police spokespersons in several states confirmed the seizures but said they were awaiting directives from force headquarters in Abuja on whether to comply with the court’s order. “We are yet to get further directives from headquarters regarding the court ruling,” said Borno command spokesman, Nahum Daso.
The police had resumed the issuance of tinted glass permits in April, two years after suspending the scheme. The decision sparked public outrage, with motorists accusing officers of harassment and extortion at checkpoints.
Inspector-General Egbetokun initially set an August 12 deadline for vehicle owners to obtain the permits, later extending it to October 2. Police authorities have defended the policy, citing the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act of 1991 and national security concerns.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kunle Edun, who leads Aikpokpo-Martins’ legal team, described the court’s interim order as “a major step in ensuring that the rule of law is upheld while the substantive issues in the case are being determined.”
Despite that assurance, enforcement remains ongoing in several states — raising fresh questions about the police’s respect for judicial authority and due process.
