By Ghazali Ibrahim
A human rights lawyer and Notary Public, Olajide Abiodun, has filed a constitutional suit at the Federal High Court, challenging the continued enforcement of the Motor Vehicle (Tinted Glass) Prohibition Act by the Nigeria Police Force.
Abiodun, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikorodu Branch and Chairman of its Human Rights Committee, argues that the law originally promulgated as a military decree is inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Recall that police had been engaging in series of public awareness about the ban on tinted glass, noting the punishment attached to failure to obtain permit.
In the court processes exclusively obtained by BlackBox Nigeria, he contends that under Sections 1(3) and 315 of the Constitution, the legislation is void and should no longer be enforced.
The suit names the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation as Respondents.
Abiodun is also seeking a judicial interpretation on whether the National Assembly has the legislative competence to sustain such military-era decrees without proper reenactment.
He further argues that the enforcement of the tinted glass ban violates citizens’ fundamental rights to liberty, privacy, and movement.
He is asking the court to grant injunctive reliefs that would restrain security agencies from harassing or arresting Nigerians over the use of vehicles with tinted windows, pending the determination of the case.
