Popular Nigerian comedian Abdulgafar Abiola, also known was Cute Abiola, is in trouble for wearing police uniforms in his skits.
He is being investigated by the police and may face prosecution for the “disrespectful and derogatory portrayal of the police uniform”.
“The law prohibits an individual, under whatever guise, from rubbishing the police institution or grossly violating its provisions with regards to the use of uniforms”, police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi said in a statement tweeted by the force.
He cited two skits deemed offensive that Cute Abiola had posted on his social media on 20 and 24 July.
One shows the comedian dressed as an officer asking a motorist to give him money to get fuel for a police car that was out of petrol. Another also depicts a policeman seeking a bribe.
The police spokesman warned other skit makers to take note: “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.”
The comedian has been in trouble before – arrested in 2021 when he was a serving navy officer for violating the military’s social media policy.
He resigned from the military last year to join the Kwara state government as an official.