The Nigerian Bar Association’s Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) has issued a scathing warning to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
In a letter addressed to the IGP on Wednesday, NBA-SPIDEL disclosed that it had already filed Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1821/2025, Incorporated Trustees, Nigerian Bar Association v. Inspector General of Police & Anor, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking to determine the constitutionality and lawfulness of the policy.
According to the letter, advance copies of the originating summons and a motion on notice for interlocutory injunction were served on the Police Directorate of Legal Services as far back as September 25, 2025.
Despite this, the NBA accused Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, and several state police commands of making “contemptuous” public statements announcing that enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy would commence on October 2, 2025.
The association described the development as an attempt to foist “a situation of helplessness” on the court, warning that the police cannot take the law into their own hands while the matter is still under judicial consideration.
Quoting relevant case law, NBA-SPIDEL reminded the police that: “The general practice is that an application for an order of interlocutory injunction, all activities affecting the res, here the land in dispute, are automatically terminated as a mark of respect to the court before whom the application is pending. Such practice is encouraged by counsel in good chambers consistent with the ethics of the profession.”
It added that the Supreme Court reinforced the principle that once a dispute is before a court, parties cannot take the law into their own hands.
According to the NBA, in the case of Registered Trustees, Apostolic Church v. Olowoleni (1990), the appellant erected a fence around the disputed land during ongoing proceedings, which the High Court ordered removed.
It noted that this decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal, emphasising that the rule of law must prevail over the use of force, and that lawful resolution through the courts cannot be circumvented by unilateral actions.
“We admonish your good office to allow the rule of law to prevail by halting any further attempt to enforce a policy whose legality is a subject for judicial determination,” the association further stated.
NBA-SPIDEL threatened that if CSP Hundeyin does not desist from his public comments inciting the enforcement of the disputed policy, contempt and committal proceedings would be commenced against him.
Similarly, the group warned the Officer-in-Charge of Legal Services, AIG Ohiozoba O. Ehiede, that if he misguides the police into disobeying the court, disciplinary action would be taken against him before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).
