Federal High Court Declares Nigerians Have Constitutional Right to Film Police in Public

In a landmark judgment with far-reaching implications for police accountability in Nigeria, the Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, has ruled that every citizen has the constitutional right to record police officers while they perform their duties in public spaces, including during patrols, stop-and-search operations, and checkpoints.

Delivering judgment on Tuesday in suit No. FHC/WR/CS/87/2025, Justice H. A. Nganjiwa held that any attempt by police officers to prevent citizens from filming them, harass, intimidate, arrest them, or confiscate their devices constitutes a violation of fundamental rights. The court awarded the applicant, Maxwell Uwaifo, N5 million in damages for the breach of his rights and an additional N2 million as litigation costs.

The case stemmed from incidents in 2025 in which Uwaifo was threatened and harassed by police officers who were not wearing name tags or displaying their force numbers after he attempted to record them in public. The suit, filed as a public interest litigation, named the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force, the Police Service Commission, and the Attorney-General of the Federation as respondents.

Justice Nganjiwa granted all the reliefs sought by the applicant, including declarations that police officers must visibly display their names and force numbers while on duty, and that any stop-and-search or checkpoint operation conducted without proper identification is unconstitutional. The court also ordered the Police Service Commission to issue clear guidelines and training modules for officers on respecting citizens’ right to record police activities in public.

Reacting to the judgment, Uwaifo described it as a major victory for civil liberties and police reform. “This judgment has significant implications for policing standards, civil liberties, and public accountability across Nigeria,” he said.

The ruling comes against the backdrop of long-standing public complaints about police brutality, extortion, and impunity, particularly during stop-and-search operations. It also reinforces earlier public statements by the Nigeria Police Force that citizens are permitted to record officers on duty, provided they do not interfere with police work.

However, enforcement of this position had remained weak, with frequent reports of officers seizing phones or arresting people for filming. Legal observers believe the Warri judgment provides clear judicial backing for the right to film police in public and could serve as a precedent in future cases. The directive for the police to develop formal guidelines and conduct training is expected to help reduce arbitrary actions by officers and improve professionalism.

The Nigeria Police Force is yet to react publicly to the judgment but civil society groups and human rights advocates have welcomed the decision, describing it as a positive development in the ongoing push for police reform and greater respect for citizens’ rights in Nigeria.