Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has said that the use of police uniforms by skit maker, Abdulgafar Ahmad, aka Cute Abiola, for entertainment is not illegal.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, had on Thursday, said the comedian would be prosecuted for violating the provisions of the law “with regards to the use of uniforms”.
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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.
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.
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