NBA Faults Police Over Tinted Glass Enforcement Amid Ongoing Court Case

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has faulted the decision of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to commence enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy despite a pending court case, describing the move as unlawful.

In a letter dated October 1 and addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, the NBA’s Section of Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) stressed that the police are legally bound to maintain the status quo after being served with copies of the originating summons and motion on notice for injunction in the matter.

“Kindly permit us to restate the settled and ubiquitous position of the law that a party served with an Originating Process and especially a Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction has a duty imposed on him by law to maintain the status quo ante bellum until the case is determined by the court one way or the other,” the letter reads.

The NBA argued that proceeding with enforcement would undermine judicial authority. “It is very clear that the pendency of SUIT NO: FHC/ABJ/CS/1821/2025 should automatically put a stop to the enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy pending the time when the court would arrive at a decision on the questions raised for determination in the Originating Summons, one way or the other,” it added.

The association warned that it may initiate contempt proceedings against Force spokesperson CSP Benjamin Hundeyin over his press release backing enforcement.

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“The NBA will therefore not hesitate to commence contempt/committal proceedings against CSP Benjamin Hundeyin if he fails to desist from clear utterances meant to downplay the authority of the court in the public domain,” it said.

The letter was signed by NBA-SPIDEL chairman Paul Ananaba, public interest litigation committee chairman Olukunle Edun, and secretary Okey Leo Ohagha.