The Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, has delivered a landmark judgment affirming the right of Nigerians to record police officers while they carry out their duties in public.
In a ruling delivered on Tuesday in suit number FHC/WR/CS/87/2025, Justice H. A. Nganjiwa held that citizens are constitutionally allowed to document police activities without interference.
The court stated that police officers must wear visible name tags and clearly display their force numbers while on duty. It further ruled that officers must not harass, intimidate, arrest, or confiscate devices from individuals recording them in public spaces.
The judgment followed a fundamental rights suit filed by Maxwell Uwaifo, who alleged that his rights were violated during an encounter with police officers.
In its decision, the court awarded Uwaifo N5 million in damages for the violation of his fundamental rights, along with an additional N2 million to cover the cost of litigation.
By granting all the reliefs sought by the applicant, the court reinforced the position that Nigerians have the right to hold law enforcement accountable through lawful documentation of their activities.
Reacting to the ruling, Uwaifo described the judgment as a significant step forward for civil liberties and police accountability in Nigeria.
He noted that the decision carries far-reaching implications for policing standards and the protection of citizens’ constitutional rights, particularly in ensuring transparency and discouraging abuse of power by law enforcement officers.