The Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, has delivered a landmark judgment affirming the constitutional right of Nigerians to film police officers while performing their duties in public.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday in suit number FHC/WR/CS/87/2025, Justice H. A. Nganjiwa ruled that police officers are required to wear visible name tags and display their force numbers while on duty. The court further held that officers must not harass, intimidate, arrest, or confiscate devices from citizens documenting their activities in public spaces.
The court also awarded a total of N7 million in damages to the applicant, Maxwell Uwaifo, including N5 million for the violation of his fundamental rights and N2 million to cover litigation costs.
By granting all the reliefs sought, the court reinforced the right of citizens to freely record police conduct without fear of intimidation or retaliation, marking a significant development in the protection of civil liberties in Nigeria.
Reacting to the ruling, Uwaifo described the judgment as a major step forward for accountability and policing standards.
“This judgment has significant implications for policing standards, civil liberties, and public accountability across Nigeria,” he said in a statement shared with journalists on Tuesday.
“The court made far-reaching pronouncements on police accountability and citizens’ constitutional rights,” he added. #Securitynewsalert.com
