The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, has backed the right of Nigerians to record police officers while they carry out official duties in public, while calling for clearer rules on the limits of that right.
The position followed discussions with Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu during a meeting between the police leadership and the NBA in Abuja.
The controversy follows a March 17 Federal High Court judgment in Warri affirming that citizens may record police officers performing public duties. The court also reportedly directed officers to display their names and force numbers during public operations.
The NBA President distinguished recording an officer performing official duties from unnecessarily filming officers in private situations such as while eating or relaxing.
She argued that legitimate recording can improve accountability and provide evidence where disputes arise over encounters between the public and law-enforcement officers.
The IGP acknowledged the right but expressed concern that indiscriminate recording outside official duties could intrude on officers’ privacy and morale.
Source: Premium Times
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