The Nigeria Police Force on Friday dismissed allegations that it was flouting court orders in its enforcement of the Motor Vehicle Tinted Glass Permit Policy, describing such claims as inaccurate.
The Force said it has at all times operated strictly within the provisions of the Constitution, extant laws and valid orders of courts of competent jurisdiction, insisting that it has neither acted nor intends to act in contempt of court.
In a statement issued in Abuja on December 19, 2025, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the clarification became necessary following recent public commentary credited to the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, on the tinted glass policy.
Hundeyin said the Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, places premium value on judicial authority and due process.
“At no time has the Nigeria Police Force acted or intended to act in contempt of court. Respect for the judiciary and adherence to the rule of law remain non-negotiable pillars of police governance,” he said.
He explained that the regulation of vehicle tinted glass is not an arbitrary or discretionary policy, stressing that it is firmly anchored in law. According to him, the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, is an Act of the National Assembly and not a military decree, as had been suggested in some quarters.
Hundeyin noted that Section 2(3)(a) of the Act vests the Inspector-General of Police with the statutory authority to issue tinted glass permits, while Section 1(2) requires applicants to demonstrate legitimate security or health-related reasons.
“The framework exists primarily to address public safety concerns, particularly the use of obscured vehicles in crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, terrorism and other violent offences,” he said.
The Police spokesperson also dismissed claims that the policy was revenue-driven, stressing that the Nigeria Police Force is not a revenue-generating organisation.
He said the Force is, however, empowered by law to receive funds that accrue incidentally in the discharge of its statutory duties, as provided under Section 26(1)(f) of the Police Act, 2020 (as amended).
Hundeyin further explained that the Federal Government approved the Police Specialized Services Automation Project in July 2022 through the Federal Executive Council to balance accessibility for legitimate applicants with national security imperatives.
Under the Public-Private Partnership arrangement, he said applications for tinted glass permits are processed online, subjected to security vetting and approved strictly in accordance with the law, with administrative fees applied solely to sustaining the technology and data infrastructure supporting the process.
He described as false allegations that payments were made into a private account operated by Parkway Projects Limited, explaining that the company is a Central Bank of Nigeria-licensed payment services provider engaged as a collection channel, similar to platforms such as Remita.
“What has been referred to as a private account is merely a transaction reference number used for reconciliation and settlement into designated government channels,” Hundeyin said.
The Force recalled that enforcement of the policy was earlier voluntarily suspended following engagements with NBA leadership and public appeals, stressing that the decision was an act of institutional restraint and goodwill, not the result of any judicial order.
“For the avoidance of doubt, no court has issued a restraining order against the Nigeria Police Force on this matter. An application for interim injunction was refused by the Federal High Court sitting in Warri,” he said.
Hundeyin added that while the Force remains mindful of pending suits, including one in which judgment has been reserved, it will not take any step capable of undermining judicial outcomes.
He assured that enforcement of the policy, where lawfully undertaken, would be professional, measured and rights-compliant, warning that extortion, harassment or abuse of authority by officers would not be tolerated.
The Police spokesperson reaffirmed the commitment of the Inspector-General of Police to professionalism, transparency, accountability and the protection of fundamental rights, while calling for calm and responsible public discourse as the courts pronounce on the issues.
