The Digest:
A Federal High Court in Delta State has ruled that Nigerians have the constitutional right to record police officers performing their duties in public spaces. Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa delivered the judgment in a fundamental rights suit filed by lawyer Maxwell Uwaifo, who was threatened with arrest for recording aggressive officers at a checkpoint in May 2025. The court declared "anonymous policing" unconstitutional, ordering officers to wear visible name tags and display force numbers. It awarded Uwaifo N5 million in damages and N2 million in litigation costs.
Key Points:
- Citizens now have judicial backing to document police encounters, strengthening accountability and transparency.
- "Anonymous policing", officers without identification, is now unconstitutional, curbing impunity and extortion.
- Police are prohibited from harassing, arresting, or seizing devices from citizens recording them in public.
- The ruling empowers Nigerians to gather evidence of misconduct and seek redress through legal channels.
- This landmark decision builds on #EndSARS legacy, affirming that policing must operate within constitutional bounds.
Sources: The Cable
