The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has filed a lawsuit against the Nigeria Police Force over the controversial tinted glass permit policy introduced by the Inspector-General of Police earlier this year.

At its pre-conference National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Enugu on August 23, the NBA resolved to challenge the legality of the directive, which requires motorists to obtain annual permits for tinted vehicle glasses through a digital portal operated by a private vendor.

The policy, announced in April 2025, directed applicants to process permits via possap.gov.ng and pay specified fees. While enforcement was postponed from June 1 to October 2, reports of harassment and extortion of motorists have persisted nationwide.

The NBA argues that the initiative infringes on citizens’ constitutional rights to dignity, privacy, movement, and property. It also questioned its legal foundation, pointing out that it relies on the 1991 Motor Tinted Glass (Prohibition) Act—a military decree which, according to the association, may not meet constitutional standards of being “reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.”

Transparency concerns have also surfaced, with permit payments allegedly routed to a private account owned by Parkway Projects rather than the Federation Account or Treasury Single Account (TSA).

Following its NEC resolution, the NBA, through its Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL), filed a suit on September 2 at the Federal High Court, Abuja, under Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/182/2025. The Incorporated Trustees of the NBA are named as claimant, while the Inspector-General of Police is the defendant.

Confirming the suit, Prof. Paul Ananaba, SAN, Chairman of NBA-SPIDEL, said the association will pursue the case to its logical conclusion and urged the police to suspend enforcement of the policy pending the court’s decision.

The case has not yet been assigned to a judge.