The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has announced the temporary suspension of the enforcement of the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, 1991, following a meeting in Abuja with the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), led by its President, Afam Josiah Osigwe (SAN). The decision, though positioned as a voluntary gesture of public interest, is a direct response to both a surging public outcry over alleged harassment and extortion and pending legal action challenging the policy’s legality.
The suspension is intended to be temporary according to IGP Egbetokun, though there is a pending Motion on Notice scheduled for hearing at the Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State.
The IGP Kayode regarded the suspension as a mark of “consideration for the interest of Nigerians and regard for the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA),” as the police sees the suspension as not due to a clear, served court order compelling it to halt enforcement but as an administrative concession to foster synergy with the NBA, uphold the rule of law, and promote public confidence in the Force.
On the other hand, the NBA President Afam Osigwe (SAN) sees the suspension as being necessary to respect judicial processes and halt the violation of citizens’ fundamental rights.
The issue surrounding the use of tinted glass in Nigeria is a complex and ongoing controversy, primarily pitting the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), who cite national security concerns and a 1991 Act, against the public, who raise issues of harassment, extortion, and the legality of the enforcement.
The legal basis for the police action is the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, 1991. This military-era decree generally prohibits vehicle glass from being tinted, shaded, or darkened without a permit from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), which can only be granted for “good cause,” typically health or security reasons.
The outcome of the IGP-NBA meeting includes the inauguration of a joint Police-NBA Committee. This collaborative body is intended to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation between the two institutions in the administration of justice.
