The Federal High Court sitting in Delta State has ruled that Nigerians can record police officers in public while performing their duties, adding that it is a constitutional right.
The presiding judge, Justice H. A. Nganjiwa, stated that police officers must wear visible name tags, show their force numbers, and also refrain from harassing, arresting, or seizing devices from citizens recording their activities.
This ruling was a result of the fundamental rights suit filed by a lawyer, Maxwell Nosakhare Uwaifo, following his experience with police officers on May 10, 2025, along the Sapele roundabout in Delta State.
He explained his ordeal, saying, “Immediately I brought out my phone. One of the men, dressed in black and appearing to be a police officer, threatened to arrest me and demanded that I put my phone away.
“They did not wear any name tags, nor did they introduce themselves. They also made no effort to disclose their identity or provide a reason for their conduct.
“The vehicle they used was a Toyota Sienna, painted black, with no police inscription, no plate number, and no markings whatsoever to identify it as a police vehicle.
“The entire interaction was intimidating, and the men created a hostile atmosphere. I could not confidently ask questions or even continue to record for fear that I would be manhandled or unlawfully detained.
“I had to comply in fear and leave quietly because I did not want to risk being physically assaulted, arrested, or having my phone forcefully taken from me.
“Due to this fear and their threatening demeanor, I could not gather any concrete evidence, and I also could not record the video or identify them clearly due to the absence of name tags and their use of an unmarked vehicle.
“I have heard and seen many similar instances where police officers intimidate, harass, and even assault Nigerians simply for recording them or questioning their unlawful acts at checkpoints.”
He noted that the judgment by the court has “far-reaching pronouncements on police accountability and citizens’ constitutional rights.”
The court also awarded the complainant N5 million in damages for the violation of his fundamental rights, alongside N2 million as the cost of litigation.