Nigerians Legally Allowed to Record Police Officers

Three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) have affirmed that Nigerians are legally permitted to record police officers while they are on duty in public spaces. This statement comes in response to Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu's recent remarks, which expressed concern over the implications of such recordings.

The SANs—Olu Daramola, Olalekan Ojo, and Isiaka Olagunju—provided various perspectives on the issue. Daramola referenced a Federal High Court ruling from March 2025 in the case of Maxwell Uwaifor vs Inspector-General of Police, which established that citizens have the right to record police activities.

He emphasized that the judgment also mandates police officers to wear visible name tags and prohibits them from confiscating mobile phones or deleting recorded footage. This ruling aligns with Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression.

Daramola argued that police officers performing their duties lawfully should not fear being recorded by the public.