Lawyer criticizes IGP's statement, affirms Nigerians can film police on duty

Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has criticized a recent statement by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu. Disu said Nigerians should hold back from filming police officers while they work.

The comment

On 17 March, the Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State made a major ruling. The court confirmed that Nigerians have the constitutional right to record police officers during their public duties.

While speaking with the Nigerian Bar Association leaders in Abuja on Tuesday, Disu expressed that police officers felt "jostled" by the court ruling. He mentioned that, following the judgement, Nigerians began recording police officers everywhere, even in restaurants.

“This can be demoralising. Can we come to your offices and record you? Can we record even in the court? People coming to our offices with concealed cameras,” the IGP said.

Lawyer fumes

During an appearance on Channels TV’s The Morning Brief on Friday, Effiong said that Disu’s concerns about filming officers show he might be overwhelmed by reports of police misconduct. The lawyer specifically took issue with the IGP’s mention of an anti-recording rule in Nigerian courts.

He pointed out that while filming in Nigerian courts is not allowed, this should not be a source of pride. He noted that court proceedings are streamed live in Kenya, Uganda, and other African countries.

“So this is not something to be proud of. It is a challenge for the judiciary,” he said about the filming ban in Nigerian courts.

Effiong made it clear that he supports calls to allow filming of court proceedings in Nigeria. However, he believes such a rule should not apply in all situations.

“So, the example that he (IGP) has cited is a false example. It’s a false equivalent. I do not agree with it,” he stated.

The lawyer then questioned why the police are worried about Nigerians filming officers on duty.

“Why do they have a problem with policemen being recorded while they are carrying out their functions? Are they scared of being shown that they are demanding bribes?

“Are they scared of being shown that they are torturing Nigerians? Are they scared of being shown that they are setting people’s backs?” he asked.

Effiong said that, contrary to the IGP’s claims, he has not seen proof of Nigerians filming police officers while they eat.

“I haven’t seen that being a practice that is rampant on social media.

“So I would be happy if the police can cite some instances to portray the fact that the IGP has referenced,” he added, suggesting that the police chief might be imagining problems.

The lawyer reiterated that Nigerians have the constitutional right to record law enforcement officers while they perform their duties in public.

“But speaking generally, Nigerians have the right, unmistakably, to record incidents. Not just the police, but law enforcement officers generally, in the course of discharging their statutory responsibility,” he said.

He further argued that the 1999 Constitution, as amended, guarantees citizens the right to record officers. He pointed out that even the Administration of Criminal Justice Act states that obtaining a confessional statement from a suspect must occur either in the presence of a legal practitioner of their choice or on video record.

“So even the law is evolving to begin to accommodate that,” he said, referring to mobile devices used for recording.

Turning to Nigerians, he said: “I am encouraging Nigerians, please continue to record policemen who act unprofessionally because the courts have made it clear.”