Federal High Court Orders Police to Maintain Status Quo on Tinted Glass Permit Enforcement

In a pivotal development in the ongoing controversy surrounding Nigeria’s tinted glass permit enforcement, the Federal High Court sitting in Warri has issued an order directing the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to maintain the status quo in the current legal dispute. The order was given today in Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/103/2025: John Aikpokpo-Martins v. Inspector General of Police & Nigeria Police Force.

The interim ruling calls on police authorities to respect judicial processes and desist from further enforcement actions related to the tinted glass permit until the substantive legal issues are resolved. This directive effectively puts a temporary halt to all police enforcement activities, ensuring that no further arrests, impoundments, or demands for payment under the tinted glass permit policy take place while the case proceeds.

Kunle Edun, SAN, who led the legal team representing the plaintiff, welcomed the court’s ruling as a critical affirmation of the rule of law and a positive step in safeguarding citizens’ constitutional rights during this contentious period. He noted that the order will provide much-needed breathing space for the court to thoroughly adjudicate the legal questions raised in the matter.

The tinted glass permit regulation, enforced under the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, 2004, came into full operation nationwide on October 2, 2025, amid considerable public resistance and accusations of police harassment and extortion. The permit policy mandates vehicle owners with tinted windows to obtain official permits, failing which vehicles face impoundment and drivers face legal actions. However, challenges to the legality and transparency of the policy have been mounting since its enforcement began.

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The Warri Federal High Court’s interim order serves as a strong reminder of the judiciary’s role in balancing enforcement with respect for legal safeguards and citizens’ rights. As public debates around the tinted glass permit continue, legal representatives and civil rights groups remain vigilant to ensure that enforcement does not override due process.

Further details of the court’s ruling and the scheduling of subsequent hearings are awaited as this critical case unfolds, with the nation closely monitoring developments in the tinted glass permit saga .