The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has issued a strong warning to the Nigeria Police Force, threatening to initiate committal proceedings against the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, over the planned resumption of the suspended motor vehicle tinted glass permit policy.

The NBA’s threat follows the police announcement that enforcement of the policy will resume nationwide from January 2, 2026, a move the association says is unlawful, oppressive, and in violation of existing court orders.

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In a statement released on Tuesday, the NBA described the planned enforcement as “a direct affront to the rule of law”, warning that neither the IGP nor any police authority has the constitutional power to unilaterally revive a policy that has been suspended by judicial pronouncements and administrative directives.

According to the NBA, the tinted glass permit regime had previously been halted due to widespread abuse, extortion, harassment of motorists, and concerns over its legality. The association noted that several courts had restrained the police from enforcing the policy, adding that any attempt to resume enforcement without clear legislative backing amounts to contempt of court.

“The Nigerian Police Force is bound by the Constitution and court orders. Any attempt to act outside these limits will attract legal consequences,” the NBA said.

The association specifically warned that if the police proceed with the policy as announced, it will approach the courts to seek committal orders against the IGP and the FPRO for knowingly promoting and implementing an unlawful directive.

The NBA further argued that the Nigeria Police Act does not empower the police to impose permit requirements on tinted glass vehicles, especially when such vehicles are manufactured with factory-fitted tinting and duly registered by licensing authorities.

It accused the police leadership of attempting to reintroduce a revenue-driven policy under the guise of security, despite repeated public outcry and documented cases of rights violations.

The announcement by CSP Hundeyin that enforcement would resume in 2026 had already sparked backlash across the country, with civil society groups, motorists’ associations, and legal practitioners condemning the move as a return to arbitrary policing.

Many Nigerians recall that the policy was suspended after sustained complaints of checkpoints being used for extortion, with motorists forced to pay bribes or face harassment, detention, or vehicle impoundment.

The NBA called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to immediately intervene and direct the police to respect the rule of law, warning that failure to do so could further erode public confidence in law enforcement institutions.

As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force has not issued an official response to the NBA’s threat. However, legal analysts say the matter could quickly escalate into a landmark constitutional showdown if the police insist on implementing the policy.

For now, tension is mounting as January 2, 2026 approaches, with motorists and legal observers closely watching the next move by the police hierarchy.