Delta court restrains IGP, CP Abaniwonda from enforcing tinted glass permit, fixes hearing for December 24

The Delta State High Court of Justice, Orerokpe Judicial Division, Okpe Local Government Area, has restrained the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, and their officers from enforcing the Tinted Glass Permit Policy pending the determination of a substantive suit.

The order was granted on Wednesday, December 17, following an ex-parte motion filed before the court, which also fixed Wednesday, December 24, for hearing of the suit.

The suit, marked Suit No: HOR/FHR/M/31/2025, was instituted by a human rights activist, Comrade Israel Joe, against the IGP and the Delta State Commissioner of Police.

Comrade Joe was represented by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Kunle Edun, alongside Ikechukwu Ogbonna Esq., E.O. Onoriode Esq., S.C. Okporgu Esq., T.L. Doigboghie Esq., A.H. Okifo Esq., Sir F.O. Yekovie, and J.K. Ezugwu Esq.

In an “Enrolment of Order,” the applicant sought “an order of interim injunction restraining the 1st and 2nd Respondents, their officers, men, agents, privies and/or contractors from implementing/enforcing the Tinted Glass Permit Policy set to commence on the 2nd of January 2026 pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application.”

He also prayed the court for “an order of interim injunction restraining the 1st and 2nd Respondents, their officers, men, agents, privies and/or contractors from stopping, harassing, arresting, detaining, extorting or otherwise interfering with the constitutional rights to dignity, privacy, freedom of movement and ownership of property of the Applicant (and citizens/motorists) under the guise of enforcing the policy.”

The applicant further sought an order restraining the respondents from “continuing to use PARKWAY PROJECTS ACCOUNT (a private contractor’s account) to conduct any government business pending hearing and determination of the substantive suit,” as well as an order for substituted service on the respondents through the Delta State Police Command Headquarters, Asaba.

When the matter was called, the applicant was absent, but his counsel, Mr. Kunle Edun, SAN, and other members of the legal team were present in court.

Delivering his ruling, the presiding judge, Hon. Justice Joe Egwu, held: “The Motion Ex-Parte dated and filed 17/12/2025 is hereby ordered as prayed,” and added that “the hearing of the Motion is fixed for 24/12/2025.”

Reacting to the ruling, Comrade Joe said, “This is victory for democracy,” and called on the Inspector-General of Police to “obey the court order and jettison every planned enforcement.”