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The Court Upholds the Right of Nigerians to Document Police Activities in Public

 

A Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, delivered a landmark ruling on March 17, 2026, declaring that Nigerians have a constitutional right to record police officers performing their duties in public.

Presided over by Justice H. A. Nganjiwa in suit FHC/WR/CS/87/2025, the judgment established several critical protections for citizens and requirements for law enforcement.

Nigerians can freely record (video or photograph) police officers during operations, such as stop-and-search, in public spaces without fear of arrest or reprisal.

The court ruled that police officers must wear visible name tags and display their force numbers while on duty.

Officers are strictly prohibited from harassing, intimidating, or arresting citizens for recording, and they cannot confiscate or seize devices used for documentation.

The court awarded ₦7 million to the applicant, lawyer Maxwell Nosakhare Uwaifo (₦5 million for rights violations and ₦2 million for litigation costs), after he was harassed for recording officers in May 2025.

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has previously stated through its Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, that recording officers is permitted provided it does not obstruct their official duties.

 This court ruling now provides a firm judicial precedent, legally reinforcing that "anonymous policing" is unconstitutional and that public officials are subject to public scrutiny.


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