Police to prosecute comedian Cute Abiola for ‘rubbishing’ uniform

• The Nigeria Police Force has announced its plan to press charges against an online comedian Cute Abiola.
• Olumuyiwa Adejobi disclosed in a statement on Thursday that the Nigeria Police Force’s decision to prosecute Cute Abiola, was prompted by his two recent posts on his social media accounts on July 20th and 24th.
• The comedian, a former Naval officer, was also arrested by the Nigerian Navy in 2021 for allegedly violating the armed forces’ social media policy but was given a punishment after he was tried for misconduct and indiscipline

Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the spokesperson for the Police Force, stated that Cute Abiola, also known as Abdulgafar Abiola, a skit maker, will undergo an investigation and could face prosecution due to his use of police uniforms in his skits.

On Thursday, in a statement, Adejobi revealed that the skit maker, in the skits posted on July 20 and 24, used police uniforms in a manner that was deemed “disrespectful and derogatory.”

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He stated that the act goes contrary to Section 251 of the Criminal Code and Section 133 of the Penal Code Law.

“Such acts are not only offensive but also undermine the integrity and dignity of the men and women who wear the uniform in service to the nation,” he explained.

“We, therefore, vehemently condemn the contemptuous act displayed by comedian Abdulgafar Abiola, popularly known as ‘Cute Abiola’ in two recent skits posted on his social media handles on 20th and 24th July 2023.

“The skits in question show a highly disrespectful and derogatory portrayal of the police uniform, an action that is in direct violation of Section 251 of the Criminal Code and Section 133 of the Penal Code Law.”

According to Adejobi, the comedian will be subject to investigation and potential prosecution for his deliberate actions, as the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) had previously issued warnings to skit makers and filmmakers to refrain from disrespecting or misusing its uniforms or accoutrements.

“The Force is committed to upholding the sanctity of the uniform and will pursue due legal process to ensure accountability for any individual or entity that seeks to bring disrepute to the uniform or the institution it represents.

“We call on all members of the public, including media personalities, to exercise their freedom of expression responsibly and avoid engaging in actions that could erode public trust in our revered law enforcement institutions,” he added.