The Federal High Court Warri has ruled that Nigerians have a constitutional right to record police officers performing their duties in public, in a landmark decision boosting accountability and civil liberties.
Justice H. A. Nganjiwa delivered the judgment on Tuesday in suit No. FHC/WR/CS/87/2025, ordering that police officers must wear visible name tags, display force numbers, and refrain from harassing, intimidating, arresting, or confiscating devices from citizens recording their actions.
The court awarded the applicant, Maxwell Uwaifo, N5 million in damages for violation of his fundamental rights and N2 million for litigation costs. All reliefs sought were granted, reinforcing citizens’ ability to document police conduct without fear of reprisal.
Uwaifo described the ruling as far-reaching, stating, “This judgement has significant implications for policing standards, civil liberties and public accountability across Nigeria. The court made far-reaching pronouncements on police accountability and citizens constitutional rights.”
The suit, filed as a public interest litigation, challenged the legality of police stop-and-search operations conducted without proper officer identification. Respondents included the Nigeria Police Force, the Police Service Commission, the Inspector General of Police, and the Attorney General of the Federation.
Filed under the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules 2009, the case cited multiple sections of the 1999 Constitution including sections 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, and 46, as well as relevant articles of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.
The judgment confirms that citizens can lawfully record police officers in public spaces and that harassment, arrest, or confiscation of devices for such actions constitutes a violation of fundamental rights.
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