Foremost human rights body, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to immediately comply with a recent ruling of the Federal High Court in Warri, which ordered the suspension of the enforcement of tinted glass permits across Nigeria.
In a statement signed by its National President, Comrade Dr. Kehinde Prince Taiga, the rights group emphasized that the court’s pronouncement is binding and must be obeyed by the Nigeria Police Force.
Dr. Taiga warned that any continued enforcement of the tinted glass permit by the police would amount to contempt of court and a direct affront to the rule of law. He stressed that the CDHR would not tolerate any act of disobedience to judicial authority, describing it as a dangerous precedent that undermines democracy and exposes citizens to unlawful arrests, extortion, and harassment.
“Disregard for judicial authority undermines the very foundation of democracy and the rule of law,” the statement read. “It also exposes innocent citizens to unlawful arrests, extortion, and harassment under an enforcement regime that the court has already placed under judicial review.”
The CDHR further cautioned that failure to comply with the court’s directive could trigger widespread civil unrest, potentially on a scale greater than the #EndSARS protests of 2020.
“The Nigerian public is becoming increasingly intolerant of abuse of power and disobedience to constitutional governance,” Dr. Taiga warned.
The human rights organization demanded that the IGP immediately halt all enforcement activities related to tinted glass permits and ensure full compliance with the court’s order until the case is conclusively determined.
“We stand for justice, due process, and the full protection of human rights. Respect the Court. Obey the Law. Protect the People,” the statement concluded.
The Federal High Court sitting in Warri had earlier ordered the suspension of the enforcement of tinted glass permits pending the final determination of the case before it, following public outcry over alleged police abuse in the implementation of the policy.
