The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has declared the tinted glass permit policy “illegal” and has vowed to provide free legal aid to Nigerians harassed by police officers over the policy. The association argues that the policy violates citizens’ rights to dignity, privacy, movement, and property as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution.
Key Points:
– Allegations of Revenue-Driven Policy: NBA claims the policy is revenue-driven, with payments directed to a private account instead of the Federation Account or Treasury Single Account.
– Lack of Transparency: The association faults the transparency of the scheme, questioning the legal basis of the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Decree 1991.
– Free Legal Aid: NBA’s Public Interest Litigation Committee has promised to provide pro bono services to citizens harassed by police, urging affected individuals to contact any NBA branch.
– Court Action: The association has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging the policy’s legality and seeking restraint on arrests, harassment, or extortion.
The police, however, maintain that the policy has legal backing under the Motor Tinted Glass (Prohibition) Act and the Police Act, emphasizing that enforcement will help curb kidnapping, terrorism, and other crimes.
