The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed reports suggesting that the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has dragged Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to court over the issuance of tinted-glass permits.
Police spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, in a statement on Wednesday, described the report as misleading and clarified that the permit policy is fully backed by law.
Citing the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, 2004, Hundeyin explained that Section 2(3a) empowers the IGP, or an officer authorised by him, to grant such permits. He added that applicants must show valid reasons — either on health or security grounds — before approval can be given, as provided under Section 1(2) of the Act.
According to him, the regulation was introduced as a crime-prevention tool, especially against violent crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, terrorism, and “one chance” operations.
Hundeyin further clarified that the charges tied to obtaining the permit are not illegal levies but processing fees used to maintain digital infrastructure for the service. He noted that Section 26 of the Nigeria Police Act, 2020 empowers the Force to provide specialised services at a fee.
The spokesperson also pointed to the Electronic Central Motor Registry (e-CMR), which he said has helped trace and recover numerous stolen vehicles nationwide, as proof of the system’s effectiveness.
“The claims that the tinted permit policy is not legal, transparent or constitutionally valid are untrue, misleading, and a calculated attempt to discredit the Force,” the statement read.
He assured the public that the IGP remains committed to transparency, professionalism, and protecting the rights of Nigerians while working to make the country safer.
