Inspector General of Police Usman Baba has declared the use of uniforms, kits and other police equipment by film and sketch makers illegal.
The Force’s public relations officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, made this known in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday.
Mr. Adejobi, who expressed concern about the way the police are depicted in the various entertainment content, said that the use of police uniform without authorization is criminalized and punished by article 251 of the Code criminal law and article 133 of the Criminal Code.
He said the IGP had instructed the police “to immediately arrest and prosecute, in accordance with the law, any person or group of persons engaged in the illegal sale of police uniforms and equipment in their jurisdiction”.
He added that “film or sketch makers who portray Nigerian police officers in a bad light, without properly requesting and receiving a letter of permission for such portrayals, must refrain with immediate effect or face to the wrath of the law”.
The police warning comes as comedians, especially on social media, use police uniforms for their content.
Some of the popular comedians who have used the police uniform regularly are Broda Shaggi, Officer Woos, William Uchemba, Aki and Paw Paw among others.
Police characters are a regular feature of Nigeria’s burgeoning sketch industry.
Read the full statement:
PRESS RELEASE
INSECURITY: NIGERIA POLICE DESCRIBE UNAUTHORIZED, ILLEGAL POSSESSION, SALES, USE OF POLICE UNIFORMS, ACCESSORIES
While the IGP orders the immediate prosecution of offenders
The Nigerian Police have expressed concern over the continued and authorized possession and use of police uniforms and equipment by certain individuals, film and sketch makers, as well as the illegal sale of equipment and police equipment by traders in shops, open shops not approved or recognized by the police authority.
The IGP also disapproved of the degrading manner in which filmmakers and sketch makers portray the police institution in their films and sketches, using police uniforms without resorting to the provision of Article 251 of the Penal Code and article 133 of the penal code. Code Law that criminalizes such unauthorized use with the necessary penalties that accompany it.
The IGP has therefore instructed all Commands and Formations, the IGP Oversight Unit, Provost Marshals and X-Squad to immediately arrest and prosecute, in accordance with the law, all persons or groups of persons engaged in the illegal sale of police uniforms and within their jurisdictions, while film or sketch makers who portray Nigerian police officers in a bad light, without applying for and being duly issued a letter of permission for such representations, must abstain with immediate effect or face the full wrath of the law.
The IGP further reiterates the Gendarmerie’s commitment to ensuring compliance with the law, as the Gendarmerie Public Relations Officer has been tasked with ensuring prompt clearance for all requests for use approval. police articles in movies, in tandem with the current laws and which will convey good values, positively impress the Nigerian public, add value to our system, provide police officers with modern innovations to actively carry out their duties policewomen and on-screen role models who would influence their lives and careers; and consequently improve security mechanisms in Nigeria…
The Inspector General of Police strongly believes that such sanity in the production of films, the regulation of sales, the possession and use of police uniforms and equipment will certainly have a positive impact on the resuscitation of moral values and the correction of erroneous perceptions and ideologies towards the commission of crimes in our society. It is obvious that this step will surely curb the proliferation of police kits, uniforms and equipments and eventually reduce the crimes induced by police imposters in our society.
CSP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FORCES HEADQUARTERS
ABUJA
July 31, 2022
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