“Can You Record in a Courtroom?”: IGP Disu Questions Police Filming

Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has cautioned Nigerians against recording policemen and turning them into “skit makers” while on duty, stressing that the act is demoralising.

Disu said officers need to concentrate on their duties and should not be distracted by video recordings from citizens.

A Call for Restraint

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has cautioned Nigerians against recording policemen and turning them into “skit makers” while on duty, stressing that the act is demoralising.

Disu said police officers need to concentrate and carry out their duties and not be distracted with video recordings from Nigerians.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the police boss made reference to the judgment of a Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, which pronounced that Nigerians have the constitutional right to record police officers performing public duties in public spaces.

In the landmark ruling delivered on March 17, 2026, in suit number FHC/WR/CS/87/2025, Justice H. A. Nganjiwa held that arresting, harassing, intimidating, or seizing devices from individuals solely for filming police activity violates Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, right to freedom of expression.

The IGP’s Concern

However, Disu said:

“Can we come to your offices and record you in your offices? Can we record even in the court? We were discussing it yesterday and spoke about people coming to our offices with unsealed cameras”.

“We checked the law and our officers came up with write ups, citing a lot of authorities. The recent judgment on the recording of police officers became something of concern to us because the citizens started coming out with their phones to record police officers everywhere and this can be embarrassing,” he said.

A Demoralising Practice

“Some even went to restaurants and started recording police officers. Everywhere they see a police officer they start recording and this is very demoralising to us,” Disu said.

“We are doing very difficult jobs and we need all the concentration in the world to be able to do our jobs. We are not saying they can’t exercise their rights of recording officers in public places while doing their jobs but they should put restraint and not turn our police officers into content for their skit or anything,” he added.

The Dangerous Reality of Policing

“If you look at where we have our officers, they are dangerous areas thick in the forest, thick in the bushes and on the highways. In the middle of nowhere these officers will stay there morning and night to do their jobs of keeping other people safe,” Disu said.

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A Lesson for Nigeria

The IGP’s warning is a reminder that the right to record must be balanced with the need for officers to concentrate on their duties.

The same citizens who record police officers will never allow their own children to be distracted while performing dangerous jobs. Their families are protected.

For Nigeria, the lesson is clear: accountability and professionalism must go hand in hand.

The same officers who object to being recorded must also ensure that their conduct does not invite scrutiny.

Respect the law. Protect your rights. And never forget that accountability is the foundation of trust.