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| Image: Twitter |
The crackdown by the police on skit makers has become popular these days, and if nothing is done, it will become another source of protest in the not-so-distant future. Recall that skit maker Abdulgafar Ahmad, aka Cute Abiola, came under fire by the Police for using the Police Uniform to act. Well, the case is not going down; it is currently still trending on social media, with different people commenting on the matter.
Joining the trail is, Human Rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong, who in a series of Tweets via is official handle, said that the use of police uniforms by the skit maker for entertainment is not illegal.
On Thursday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the comedian would be prosecuted for violating the provisions of the law “with regards to the use of uniforms.”
But the human rights lawyer, in a statement on Friday, disagreed with the police spokesman, saying, “Entertainers use military and police uniforms globally for their art and craft.”
“Using ‘police uniform’ in a skit for the purpose of entertainment cannot by itself bring contempt on that uniform.
“In any event, if what’s demonstrated in the skit is a true reflection of what the police is known for, you will have a hard time proving this case.
According to Effiong, the skit maker may want to call up to 1000 witnesses to testify that the skit is a true reflection of the police mode of operation and, therefore, not contemptuous.
According to Effiong, the skit maker may want to call up to 1000 witnesses to testify that the skit is a true reflection of the police mode of operation and, therefore, not contemptuous.
He advised Adejobi that the case may end up exposing the police to further public ridicule and judicial rebuke, adding that the police force should rather use the energy in pursuing such case on eradicating corruption within the system.
“By the way, the said offense is a simple offense with a punishment of only three months imprisonment or a fine of forty Naira.
“If the Magistrate Court even agrees with your argument, a fine may be imposed, and I don’t see how a forty Naira fine on Cute Abiola will improve the revenue of the police or the federal government.
“Rather than dissipate your energy trying to fight skit makers for depicting the police in a way you’re not comfortable with, you should use that energy to curtail the menace, lawlessness, and wanton corruption of policemen whose endless abuse of power is what has actually brought the uniform and the Force into contempt.
“By the way, you will have to define what constitutes a “police uniform” as provided for by law and also prove beyond reasonable doubt that what Cute Abiola wore in the skit is a police uniform. It is not as simple as ABC. Law is not a joke. Criminal Litigation is not skit.”
See the post:
See the post:
On this case of Cute Abiola’s skit on “police uniform”, I disagree entirely with you.
— Inibehe Effiong (@InibeheEffiong) July 28, 2023
The case is not as simple as the Force PRO wants the public to believe.
Skit is intended for entertainment.
Entertainers use military and police uniforms globally for their art and craft. https://t.co/XpcJJietbP
Source: talkagblog.com
#Cute Abiola
#Nigerian Police
#Cute Abiola
#Nigerian Police
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