Court Approves Nigerians’ Right to Record Police

Court Upholds Nigerians’ Right to Film Police, Awards N7m Damages
The 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 in suit number FHC/WR/CS/87/2025, Justice H. A. Nganjiwa held that police officers are required to 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, along with an additional N2 million as litigation costs.

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.

Reacting to the judgment, Uwaifo described the ruling as a significant step toward strengthening accountability in law enforcement.

“This judgment has far-reaching implications for policing standards, civil liberties, and public accountability across Nigeria,” he said in a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday.

He added that the decision marks a major milestone in advancing citizens’ constitutional rights and promoting transparency in policing.