Inibehe Effiong, a human rights lawyer, has tackled the Nigeria Police Force for vowing to “investigate and possibly prosecute” skit maker Abdulgafar Ahmad, popularly known as Cute Abiola, for using police uniforms in skits. 

The police spokesperson, Oluwuyiwa Adejobi, had, in a statement on Thursday, alleged that Cute Abiola, in two recent skits posted on his social media handles on July 20 and 24, disrespected the police uniform.

But in counter reply, the human rights lawyer explained that using police uniforms in a skit for entertainment cannot be termed as illegal.

Mr Effiong explained how entertainers worldwide “use military and police uniforms for their art and craft.”

“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,” he said. 

The legal practitioner said if the police are truly serious about prosecuting the popular skit maker, the case may end up exposing the security agents to public ridicule and judicial rebuke.

He said the Nigerian police should instead dissipate its energy in pursuing such cases on eradicating corruption, lawlessness and abuse of power within the system. 

“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,” Mr Effoing added.