Legal practitioner, Inibehe Effiong, has challenged the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, over his warning against Nigerians recording police officers for social media skits.
Effiong argued that the Nigeria Police Force itself engages in content creation through its social media platforms, website, radio station and other commun4ication channels.
The lawyer spoke on Friday during an interview with Channels Television, following Disu’s criticism of the practice of filming police officers for entertainment purposes.
The IGP had described the use of policemen in social media skits as “very, very demoralising” to members of the force.
However, Effiong said there was a need to clearly define what constitutes content creation and distinguish between entertainment and the dissemination of information to the public.
He asked whether content creation should be determined by the pursuit of financial gain or by the publication and circulation of information for public enlightenment.
Effiong said, “What is content creation? Is it materials generated and disseminated or published or circulated for revenue generation? Or is it simply posting information for public enlightenment?”
He added that the police could also be regarded as a content-creating institution because it operates several platforms for producing and distributing information.
According to him, the police use social media handles, its official website and police radio to create and disseminate content to the public.
Effiong therefore called for clarification on the specific activities targeted by the IGP’s warning, particularly whether it was directed at skit makers, entertainers and pranksters who use police officers in humorous online content.
He also questioned the police concern about citizens recording officers while they are performing their duties in public.
READ ALSO: IGP To Nigerians: Stop Recording Police Officers Everywhere, It’s Demoralising
“The question is, why is the police constantly fidgeting over the recording of their officers in the course of their duties?” he asked.
Disu had reportedly cited instances of police officers being filmed while eating as part of his concern.
Effiong, however, said he had not seen evidence suggesting that such filming was widespread on social media and urged the police to provide specific examples to support the concern.
The lawyer maintained that Nigerians have a constitutional right to record law enforcement officers while they are carrying out their statutory duties in public.
He cited Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, including the freedom to disseminate and propagate ideas and information.
Effiong further argued that the protection extends to the use of communication tools, including mobile phones and other electronic devices, for recording and sharing information.
“Within the current constitutional framework, the right of the Nigerian people, the right of every person to record officers in public places usually, while exercising public responsibilities is important,” he said.