By Halimah Olamide
A popular Nigerian human rights lawyer and activist, Inibehe Effiong, has countered the Nigerian Police Force over its plan to prosecute popular skit maker AbdulGafar Ahmad popularly called Cute Abiola, over one of his recent skits.
Police spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi had announced that the skitmaker, who is also a Special Adviser to the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRazaque AbdulRahman, of denigrating the uniform of the police in one of his skits. In the skit under challenge, the actor had appeared in a costume of a policeman where he stopped. a young man for stop and search on the road only to demand for gratifications. The police, through a statement had frowned at the act saying the skit maker brought the force to disrepute. Effiong, while countering the police said actors use police uniforms all over the world to produce plays that reflect the society.
He wrote, “On this case of Cute Abiola’s skit on “police uniform”, I disagree entirely with you.
“The case is not as simple as the Force PRO wants the public to believe.
S”kit is intended for entertainment.
“Entertainers use military and police uniforms globally for their art and craft.”
The police spokesman had cited Section 251 of the Criminal Code Act of Nigeria to back his position. The section says “Any person who, not being. a person serving in any of the armed forces or the police forces of Nigeria wears the uniform of any of these forces or any less having the appearance or bearing any of the regimental or other distinctive marks of any such uniforms ,in such manners and in such circumstances as to be likely to bring contempt on that uniform, or employs any other person so to wear such uniform or dress, is guilty of a simple offence, and is liable to imprisonment for three months or to a fine of forty naira.”
Olumuyiwa had called attention of those criticising the police our position to read the before they get into trouble. He said, “It’s a matter of law, not sentiment. However, there are some elements we will never respond to, no matter what they say, bc they only seek relevance and cruise with police matter.”