A Federal High Court in Delta State has ruled that Nigerians are legally permitted to record police officers during stop-and-search operations in public spaces.
Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa delivered the judgment on Tuesday while ruling on a fundamental rights suit filed by lawyer Maxwell Nosakhare Uwaifo against the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force, the Police Service Commission, and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Describing the decision as far-reaching, Uwaifo said the court affirmed that “anonymous policing is unconstitutional,” stressing that officers must be identifiable while carrying out public duties.
The case stemmed from the lawyer’s encounter with unidentified officers along the Sapele roundabout in May 2025, where he alleged intimidation and was prevented from recording their actions.
In its ruling, the court held that citizens have a constitutional right under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution to document law enforcement activities in public. It further declared it unlawful for officers to harass, intimidate, arrest, or confiscate devices from individuals for recording them.
Justice Nganjiwa also ruled that police personnel must wear uniforms displaying visible name tags and force numbers during operations, warning that failure to do so violates constitutional provisions.
The court awarded N5 million in damages for the violation of Uwaifo’s rights and an additional N2 million to cover legal costs, reinforcing accountability and transparency in policing.
Post A Comment: