NBA President Supports Right to Film Police But Wants Clearer Rules

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has backed the right of Nigerians to record police officers while they work in public. She made this known following a recent court ruling but emphasized the need for clearer rules to protect the privacy of officers.

Mrs Badejo-Okusanya spoke on Tuesday in Abuja during a meeting with the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and the NBA executive committee at the Force Headquarters. The meeting aimed to improve the relationship between lawyers and the police amid ongoing disagreements between the two groups.

Responding to police concerns about citizens recording their actions, Mrs Badejo-Okusanya, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), stated that transparency should not be avoided when officers are doing their lawful duties. "We should not be afraid of being transparent in the lawful execution of our duties," she said. She became the first elected female NBA president just last month.

Background on Recording Police Officers

The issue of recording police officers gained attention after a court ruling on March 17. The Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, confirmed Nigerians' constitutional right to record police officers while they perform their duties in public. The judge, Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, made the ruling on a case brought by lawyer Maxwell Nosakhare Uwaifo after he had an encounter with police during a stop-and-search operation in May 2025. The court ordered officers to show their names and force numbers during public operations.

This ruling came after the Nigeria Police Force announced in December 2023 that filming or taking pictures of police officers on duty was not a crime. In April, Anietie Iniedu, the Head of the Complaint Response Unit (CRU) of the police, said the court's decision would help improve policing in Nigeria.

But in May, the situation changed when a police officer was arrested after a video surfaced of him threatening people who tried to record him while on duty. The police then promised to take action against him.

Concerns Among Police Officers

During the meeting in Abuja, IGP Olatunji Disu expressed that the recent ruling had raised concerns among police officers. "The recent judgment on recording of police officers, that one really jolted our officers," he said. He added that officers felt uneasy as the public began recording them in various situations.

He claimed that some people were even recording officers in places like restaurants, where they were not on duty. "Everywhere you see a policeman, start recording a policeman. So this is something that is very, very demoralizing to us," he stated.

Mr Disu confirmed that citizens have the right to film police officers performing their duties in public. "We are not saying they cannot exercise their rights of recording officers in public places while doing their jobs," he explained. He urged the public to be cautious and not turn police officers into content for social media.

NBA President on Accountability

In response to the IGP's worries, Mrs Badejo-Okusanya recognized the need to protect police officers from unnecessary intrusions into their personal lives. She pointed out that recording officers while they are eating or relaxing could invade their privacy. "Policemen sitting down somewhere eating and people are recording them and intruding on their privacy," she said.

However, she made a clear distinction between those situations and recording officers when they are on duty. She mentioned that the use of body-worn cameras by police officers in the US shows how recording can help accountability. "When the US introduced body cams for police officers, it was in order to promote that," she said.

She explained that recordings can help clarify what happens during interactions between police and the public and can provide evidence if an officer is accused of misconduct. Mrs Badejo-Okusanya said Nigeria should not simply reject the idea of recording police officers. "We just need to understand the limits," she said.

She suggested that existing laws could be strengthened or clarified to define when police officers can be recorded and to prevent the abuse of this right. She also called for cooperation between lawyers and police, describing both as partners in promoting safety and respect for the law.

Collaboration Between Police and NBA

The meeting also covered ways to improve the relationship between lawyers and police and reduce conflicts. Mr Disu noted that disagreements can happen during the duties of lawyers and police but should be dealt with professionally. He highlighted the need for better engagement, reducing delays in criminal trials, and setting up a communication system between the Nigeria Police Force and the NBA.

The NBA also proposed, under a UNICEF-supported program, that a police lawyer should be available at every police station to assist children involved in the justice system. This proposal aims to ensure that vulnerable children receive the legal help and protection they need.