The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has declared the use of police uniforms, kits and other accoutrements by film and skit makers illegal.
Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, made this known in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday.
Mr Adejobi, who expressed worries about how the police are portrayed in the various entertainment contents, said using the police uniform without permission is criminalised and punished by section 251 of the Criminal Code law, and Section 133 of the Penal Code Law.
He said the IGP has given an order to police officers “to arrest and immediately prosecute, in accordance with the law, all persons or group of persons engaging in the illegal sales of police uniforms and accoutrements within their jurisdictions”.
He added that “film or skit makers who portray the Nigeria Police Force officers in a bad light, without applying for, and being duly issued a permit letter for such portrayals, to desist with immediate effect or face the full wrath of the law.”
The warning by the police comes as comedians, particularly 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 in the booming skit-making industry in Nigeria.
Credit: premiumtimesng.com
