Chairman of NBA-SPIDEL, Dr. Paul Ananaba (SAN), disclosed this during an interactive session in Ikeja on Thursday, as part of activities ahead of the association’s annual conference scheduled for December 1–5 in Akwa Ibom.
According to Ananaba, the review is aimed at ensuring that the policy aligns with both public interest and national security objectives. He revealed that the decision came after several weeks of dialogue between NBA-SPIDEL and senior police officials, following widespread public complaints about harassment and arbitrary arrests of motorists by officers enforcing the policy.
“Following our discussions with senior police officers, we agreed that the enforcement of the tinted permit should be suspended, while a joint review committee is constituted,” he stated.
Ananaba clarified that SPIDEL’s engagement with the police is not confrontational, but rather designed to promote accountability and justice in governance.
He added that the joint committee will include representatives from both the Nigeria Police Force and NBA-SPIDEL, who will assess the legal and security dimensions of the tinted permit regulation and propose reforms for its proper implementation.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Adaobi Egboka, Director of the Africa Initiative at the Vance Centre of the New York City Bar, announced a proposed partnership with NBA-SPIDEL to institutionalize pro bono legal services and strengthen access to justice across Africa.
She emphasized that the initiative aims to build a structured pro bono framework in Nigeria, establish a database of participating law firms, and set measurable standards for legal aid contributions.
Egboka called for collaboration toward establishing a “Pro Bono Declaration for Africa” — similar to that of the Americas — to encourage African law firms to dedicate specific hours annually to providing free legal services for the underprivileged.
