Court Affirms Nigerians’ Right to Record Police Officers

A Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, has affirmed the constitutional right of Nigerians to record police officers while carrying out their duties in public.

Delivering judgment on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in suit number FHC/WR/CS/87/2025, Justice H. A. Nganjiwa ruled that police officers must wear visible name tags, display their force numbers, and must not harass, intimidate, arrest, or seize devices from citizens documenting their activities.

The court also awarded the applicant, Maxwell Uwaifo, N5 million in damages for the violation of his fundamental rights, alongside N2 million as litigation costs, according to reports by Premium Times.

By granting all the reliefs sought, the court reinforced citizens’ right to freely document police actions in public spaces without fear of intimidation or retaliation, as also reported by PM Express and The Nigeria Lawyer.

Reacting to the ruling, Uwaifo described the judgment as a major step forward for accountability.

“This judgement has significant implications for policing standards, civil liberties, and public accountability across Nigeria,” he said in a statement shared with newsmen on Tuesday.
“The court made far-reaching pronouncements on police accountability and citizens’ constitutional rights.”

The ruling is widely seen as a landmark decision with implications for policing standards, civil liberties and transparency in Nigeria.