Legal practitioner John Aikpokpo-Martins has criticized the police for attempting to challenge a court ruling on the use of tinted car windows, describing the move as beyond their authority.
In an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Aikpokpo-Martins stated that the police do not have the legal power to review or overturn a court order regarding tinted glass permits. He suggested that the law enforcement agency’s actions may be motivated by revenue generation rather than public safety.
“The police lack the authority to review a court order. That is an important point to emphasize,” Aikpokpo-Martins said. “By trying to act in this way, they are essentially positioning themselves as a revenue-generating entity rather than upholding the law. Courts issue successive orders, and it is not within the police’s purview to review them on their own. If they believe a review is necessary, they must return to the court and formally file an application for review.”
He further argued that the enforcement of tinted glass regulations by the police often lacks a clear basis. “Where is the evidence that crimes are being committed because of tinted windows? Most Nigerians, myself included, comply with police instructions when asked to roll down windows during road checks. The system works when there is mutual respect for the law,” he noted.
-Martins’ comments come amid ongoing debates about the scope of police powers in regulating vehicle modifications and the importance of adhering to judicial rulings. His stance underscores the principle that enforcement agencies must operate within the boundaries set by the judiciary, rather than making unilateral decisions that could affect citizens’ rights.
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