Court Upholds Right to Record Police, Awards ₦5 Million

On Tuesday, the Federal High Court in Delta State, presided over by Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, ruled that Nigerians have the constitutional right to record police officers during public operations, such as stop-and-search activities. The judgment was delivered in response to a suit filed by lawyer Maxwel Nosakhar Uwaifo, who sought a judicial pronouncement on the legality of police conduct without visible identification.

Uwaifo's case stemmed from an encounter on May 10, 2025, where police officers at Sapel Roundabout, traveling from Benin to Warri, questioned him aggressively without wearing name tags or identifying themselves. The court deemed the actions of the police unconstitutional and awarded Uwaifo ₦5 million in damages for the violation of his fundamental rights, along with ₦2 million in litigation costs.

The ruling emphasizes that police officers must wear visible identification, including name tags and force numbers, during public operations to ensure accountability.