Court upholds the right of Nigerians to record, take pictures, or film police officers while on duty in public spaces.

Court upholds the right of Nigerians to record, take pictures, or film police officers while on duty in public spaces. rnrnIn a landmark ruling delivered on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, the Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, explicitly upheld the constitutional right of Nigerians to record police officers performing their duties in public. rnrnIn the case: "Maxwell Uwaifo v. Nigeria Police Force & Inspector-General of Police (Suit No: FHC/WR/CS/87/2025)', Justice H. A. Nganjiwa ruled that filming or documenting police actions in public is a fundamental right. He stated that officers must not harass, intimidate, or arrest citizens for recording them, nor should they seize their devices.rnrnThe court mandated that police officers must wear visible name tags and display their force numbers while on duty. The court awarded ₦7 million to the applicant, Maxwell Uwaifo, comprising ₦5 million for the violation of his fundamental rights and ₦2 million for litigation costs.rnrnThe ruling reinforces that Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution (Right to Privacy) does not shield public officials from scrutiny while performing public duties. rnrnSeizing a phone or forcing a citizen to delete a video is considered tampering with evidence and obstruction of justice, as the footage serves as potential evidence of misconduct.rnrnBy granting all the reliefs sought, the court reinforced the right of Nigerians to freely document police actions in public spaces without fear of intimidation or retaliation.