“We Should Not Be Afraid Of Transparency”- NBA President Faults IGP Disu’s Position On Recording Police Officers On Duty

• The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Okusanya, has responded to Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun’s criticism of Nigerians recording police officers while carrying out their duties.
• Okusanya argued that officers should not be afraid of transparency and cited the use of body cameras by police officers in the United States.
• The IGP had questioned the growing practice of recording officers, asking Nigerians whether they would accept people recording them in their offices or during their professional duties.

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Okusanya, has challenged Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun’s position on Nigerians recording police officers while they are carrying out their duties.

The NBA president said police officers should not be afraid of being transparent while performing their responsibilities, citing the use of body cameras by police officers in the United States.

He said, “We should not be afraid of being transparent while carrying out our duties. That’s why the USA introduced body cameras for its police officers. It makes for a better society.”

His comments came after the IGP spoke against the increasing practice of Nigerians recording police officers and sharing footage online.

Disu said, “Can we come to your office and record you? Can you record in the courtroom? Don’t turn our police officers into content.”

According to the IGP, some police officers operate in thick forests and on highways while protecting Nigerians, yet members of the public are increasingly focused on recording officers and turning their activities into social media content.

He questioned whether Nigerians would accept police officers entering their workplaces and recording them while they carried out their duties.

The IGP described the development as a growing concern and called for a balance between documenting incidents and allowing police officers to carry out their responsibilities without being turned into social media content.

The exchange has sparked reactions online, with some Nigerians backing the NBA president’s call for greater transparency.

@Foxyblueu: The only reason they are terrified of cameras is because it stops them from extorting innocent citizens at checkpoints.

@EMMYj2_: Get those mf on bodycam

@KhalidTosin: Good response

@DanielEmeka13: I align with the NBA president’s view

@MoreLifeDey4U: Gbam