Court Verdict Affirms Security Over Sentiment On Tinted Glass Permit -By Adewole Kehinde

The recent decision of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to dismiss the suit filed by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) challenging the enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy by the Nigeria Police Force is both timely and commendable.

In a country grappling with evolving security threats, the judiciary has once again demonstrated its commitment to balancing civil liberties with the imperative of public safety.

Delivering judgment in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/182/2025, Justice Suleman Liman of Court 11 of the Federal High Court, Maitama, resolved all issues in favour of the defendants — the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force.

The suit had been instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the NBA on behalf of the association, Nigerian legal practitioners and the general motoring public. However, the court held that the NBA failed to prove its allegations that the tinted glass permit policy was illegal.

Justice Liman found that the association did not discharge the burden of proof required to sustain its claims. The court further ruled that the NBA lacked the locus standi to institute and maintain the action, noting that the claims presented did not demonstrate any breach of the provisions of Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution or the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules.

In addition, the judge held that the association failed to show that any legal injury had been suffered that would justify the court’s intervention, adding that the suit did not disclose any reasonable cause of action.

More importantly, the court observed that the concerns raised by the NBA appeared to be based largely on institutional convenience rather than any legally enforceable right. On the substantive issue, Justice Liman made a crucial clarification: the use of tinted glass on vehicles is not a constitutional right. Rather, the permit policy is a security-related measure aimed at addressing criminal activities and enhancing public safety.

I recall vividly that in December 2025, I appeared on the popular current affairs programme Kakaaki on African Independent Television (AIT) to discuss the essence of enforcing the tinted car permit regime. On the same programme was the National Welfare Officer of the Nigerian Bar Association who argued against the enforcement of the policy. During that discussion, I maintained that the issue should be viewed strictly through the lens of public safety rather than institutional convenience.

I cited several real-life examples that illustrate the dangers posed by the unchecked use of tinted vehicles. In one disturbing incident, a professor was kidnapped and whisked away in a tinted vehicle, making it extremely difficult for passersby or security personnel to observe what was happening inside the car.

In another tragic case, some children lost their lives after they were trapped inside a parked tinted vehicle, their distress going unnoticed because the darkened glass concealed them from view. These incidents underscore why regulation of tinted glass is not merely bureaucratic control but a matter of human safety.

It is important to recall that the suit arose following the reintroduction of the tinted glass permit regime by the Inspector-General of Police under the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act. The policy requires vehicle owners using tinted glass to obtain annual permits through an online platform. The NBA had argued that the policy was unconstitutional, illegal and susceptible to abuse by police officers through extortion.

While concerns about potential abuse of power by law enforcement officers should always be taken seriously, such concerns cannot invalidate a lawful policy designed to protect the public. The appropriate response to potential abuse is stronger oversight and accountability mechanisms—not the wholesale rejection of a security policy.

The judgment therefore serves as a strong reminder that security policies, when anchored in law and designed for public safety, deserve institutional support rather than reflexive opposition.

The police, as the primary law enforcement agency of the state, must be empowered to implement lawful measures aimed at preventing crime and safeguarding citizens.

Ultimately, I fully agree with the position of the court: the police cannot be restrained from implementing policies designed to protect citizens and maintain security. The ruling reinforces a simple but important principle—public safety must remain paramount in any society that seeks order, stability and the protection of human life.

Adewole Kehinde is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja. email: kennyadewole@gmail.com 08166240846 @kennyadewole