The Nigeria Police Force has clarified that it is yet to be served with the recent order of the Federal High Court in Warri directing it to suspend the enforcement of the controversial tinted-glass permit policy.
Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this on Saturday while reacting to media reports claiming that the court had restrained the police from arresting or prosecuting motorists with tinted vehicle windows.
The clarification follows Friday’s ruling in Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/103/2025: John Aikpokpo-Martins v. Inspector-General of Police & Nigeria Police Force, where Justice H.A. Ngangijowa ordered the police to suspend enforcement of the policy and “maintain the status quo” pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Hundeyin, however, stated that the Force had not been formally served with the court order and cautioned against what he described as selective reporting of the ruling.
He wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“While we have not been officially served the court order you’re making reference to, let me, in the meantime, show point number eight (of the same order) since you left that part out and focused only on point number six. Nigerians deserve a complete picture, not a skewed one.”
The Federal High Court in Warri had, on Friday, temporarily restrained the Nigeria Police Force from implementing the tinted-glass permit policy, which was scheduled to take effect on October 6, 2025.
Justice Ngangijowa, ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by John Aikpokpo-Martins, ordered the police, their agents, and contractors to suspend enforcement and refrain from stopping, harassing, arresting, or detaining motorists under the policy. The court also barred the use of Parkway Projects’ account (A/C No. 4001017918) for the collection of permit-related fees.
The interim injunction remains in force pending the hearing of the motion on notice, with the matter adjourned to October 16, 2025, for further proceedings. The court also granted leave for substituted service of processes through courier to ensure speedy notification of the defendants.
Aikpokpo-Martins, who filed the suit on behalf of all vehicle owners in Nigeria, argued that the policy could lead to widespread harassment and infringement of citizens’ rights to dignity, privacy, movement, and property.
The plaintiff’s legal team is led by Kunle Edun, SAN, alongside several other counsel, including A.J. Edemademide, A.C. Ojuksonsin, Faith Anigboro, Awururo-Okooye, T.F. Yashobo, and Oghenetage Fole.
While the court declined to grant certain reliefs in the original application, it approved key injunctions halting implementation of the policy nationwide.
The Nigeria Police had initially suspended the tinted-glass permit system in 2022, citing abuse, before reintroducing it in April 2023 under the Police Specialised Services Automation Project (POSSAP).
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