Nigerian comedian and social commentator DeeOne has warned Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, to be cautious with his remarks concerning Nigerians recording police officers while carrying out their duties.
DeeOne’s reaction followed comments attributed to the IGP over the practice of citizens using their phones to record police operations. The comedian expressed concern that such statements could create tension or discourage Nigerians from documenting encounters with law enforcement officers.
He urged the police authorities to consider the possible implications of the remarks, particularly in situations where citizens may rely on video recordings to document police conduct or preserve evidence of incidents.
The controversy comes against the backdrop of a Federal High Court judgment delivered in Warri, Delta State, in March 2026, which affirmed the constitutional right of Nigerians to record police officers while they perform their duties in public.
Justice H. A. Nganjiwa, in suit number FHC/WR/CS/87/2025, ruled that police officers must wear visible name tags and display their force numbers. The court further held that officers should not harass, intimidate, arrest or seize the devices of citizens who are recording them while they perform official duties in public.
The case was brought by lawyer Maxwell Uwaifo, who told the court that he had attempted to record police officers during a stop-and-search encounter after becoming concerned about their conduct and lack of visible identification.
The court awarded Uwaifo ₦5 million in damages for the violation of his rights and a further ₦2 million for litigation costs.
The disagreement between DeeOne’s comments and the IGP’s reported position has therefore reopened discussion about police accountability, citizens’ rights and the role of mobile-phone recordings in documenting encounters between members of the public and security personnel.
While recording police activities may raise legitimate safety and operational concerns in particular circumstances, the existing court ruling establishes an important legal position on citizens documenting police activities conducted in public spaces.
