The High Court of Delta State has issued an ex-parte injunction preventing the Nigeria Police Force from resuming enforcement of its controversial tinted glass permit policy across the country. Justice Joe Egwu granted the order on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, following a suit filed by Mr. Israel Joe, who was represented by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kunle Edun.
The court order also prohibits police from harassing, arresting, detaining, or extorting citizens and motorists in connection with the policy.
This injunction will remain in effect pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit, effectively halting the Police Force’s announcement to resume enforcement on January 2, 2026.
The tinted glass permit policy has been controversial since its introduction by the Inspector General of Police in April 2025. The policy requires citizens to annually obtain motor vehicle tinted glass permits through an online platform.
The initial enforcement was scheduled to begin on June 1, 2025, but was postponed to October 2 following widespread criticism.
Reports of harassment, extortion, and civil rights violations emerged, particularly affecting young Nigerians who complained of being unfairly targeted by law enforcement officers.
In September 2025, the Nigerian Bar Association, through its Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), took formal legal action against the policy. The NBA filed suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging the legality and constitutionality of the tinted glass permit requirement.
The organization argued that the Motor Tinted Glass (Prohibition) Act of 1991, which forms the basis for the policy, is a military-era decree that fails to meet democratic standards of justification under Section 45 and other relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
The NBA said that such legislation from Nigeria’s military past cannot automatically satisfy the constitutional requirements of a democratic dispensation.
The NBA described the policy as a revenue-generating scheme by the Police which is not legally authorized to function as a revenue-generating organization. It alleged that permit fees are paid into the account of a private company, raising questions about transparency and proper financial management.
But the Police issued a detailed statement defending its position, saying that it is committed to complying fully with all valid court orders but that there is no final judicial pronouncement declaring the policy unlawful, nor any permanent order restraining them from performing their statutory duties regarding tinted vehicle glasses.
