The Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, has ruled that Nigerians have the constitutional right to record police officers carrying out duties in public.
Delivering judgement on Tuesday in suit number FHC/WR/CS/87/2025, Justice H. A. Nganjiwa held that police officers must wear visible name tags, display their force numbers, and must not harass, intimidate, arrest, or seize devices from citizens documenting their activities.
The court also awarded the applicant, Maxwell Uwaifo, N5 million in damages for the violation of his fundamental rights, alongside N2 million to cover litigation costs.
By 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.
Reacting to the ruling, Mr Uwaifo described the judgement as a major step forward for accountability.
“This judgement has significant implications for policing standards, civil liberties, and public accountability across Nigeria,” he said in a statement shared with newsmen on Tuesday.
“The court made far-reaching pronouncements on police accountability and citizens.”
Writing on the matter in the social media, Maxwell N. Uwaifo, posted:
YOU CAN NOW RECORD POLICE, COURT HAS MADE IT CLEAR
Yesterday, the Federal High Court sitting in Warri, before Honourable Justice H. A. Nganjiwa, delivered judgment in a matter I instituted to address a very common problem many Nigerians face on the road.
We have all seen it, or experienced it.
You are stopped by armed men claiming to be police officers, but they have no name tags, no force numbers, and sometimes operate from unmarked vehicles. You are unsure who they are, and if you try to record what is happening, you are threatened or forced to stop.
That was the issue I took to court.
The Court has now settled it.
✔ You can record police officers performing their duties in public
✔ Police officers must wear name tags or carry proper identification
✔ Police cannot harass, intimidate, arrest, or seize your phone because you are recording
✔ Faceless or anonymous policing is unlawful
The Court granted all the reliefs sought and awarded:
₦5,000,000 as damages
₦2,000,000 as cost of litigation
This is about accountability and safety.
No one should be confronted by armed officers and not know who they are.
No one should be afraid to document what is happening in public.
The law is now clear:
👉 You can record police officers
👉 Police officers must identify themselves
I will share excerpts of the judgment once available.
MAXWELL N. UWAIFO
