Court Stops Police From Enforcing Tinted Glass Permit Jan 2

 

Delta State High Court sitting in Orerokpe has restrained the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) from implementing or enforcing the tinted glass permit policy slated to take effect from January 2, 2026.

Justice Joe Egwu granted the interim injunction on Wednesday while ruling on an ex parte motion filed by one Mr. Israel Joe against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Nigeria Police Force and the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command.

In the suit marked HOR/FHR/M/31/2025, the applicant urged the court to bar the police from implementing, enforcing or taking any steps whatsoever to enforce the tinted glass permit policy pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application.

Joe also prayed the court to restrain the respondents from stopping, harassing, arresting, detaining or extorting him and other motorists under the guise of enforcing the policy, alleging that such actions would amount to violations of fundamental rights, including dignity of the human person, privacy, freedom of movement and the right to own property.

Granting the application as prayed, Justice Egwu ordered the police and their agents to refrain from implementing or further implementing the tinted glass permit policy pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The judge further restrained the respondents from harassing, arresting, detaining or extorting the applicant and other motorists while purportedly enforcing the policy.

In a related order, the court barred the respondents from continuing to operate or use the Parkway Projects account, described in the application as a private account, for the conduct of government business pending the outcome of the suit.

Justice Egwu also granted leave for substituted service of court processes on the first and second respondents through the third respondent — the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command — at the police headquarters in Asaba, holding that such service would be deemed proper and sufficient.

Although the applicant was absent in court, he was represented by a team of lawyers led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kunle Edun, alongside Ikechukwu Ogbonna, E.O. Onoriode, S.C. Okporgu, T.L. Doigboghie, A.H. Okifo, Sir F.O. Yekovie and J.K. Ezugwu.

After listening to submissions from counsel, the court ordered that the motion ex parte dated and filed on December 17 be granted in its entirety.

The motion on notice was adjourned to December 24 for hearing, while the interim orders take effect from December 17.

It would be recalled that a Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, on October 3, had also ordered the police and the IGP to maintain the status quo and refrain from enforcing the controversial tinted glass permit requirement pending further proceedings in a similar suit.