Why We Are Unable To Apprehend Bobrisky — Police
Why the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is unable to apprehend transvestites such as Bobrisky has been made public.
The self-described transsexual and crossdresser Bobrisky, real name Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, has always made headlines for all the wrong reasons.
The social media star declared herself to be the first transgender person in Nigeria. She once acknowledged that she had cut off her penis.
After she controversially won the “best dressed female” category at a Nollywood event, there have been calls for her arrest.
The police spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, stated that crossdressers cannot be arrested by the force based only on their physical appearance in a recent interview on Channels TV.
Crossdressing is not currently a crime in Nigeria, according to the police public relations officer (PPRO).
Only when a transvestite is “into something else that is criminal and punishable under the law” can they be charged with a crime, under his statement.
Additionally, the police spokeswoman urged anyone looking to prosecute crossdressers to come forward with “solid evidence.”
“There are some cases that are always very difficult to prove. Fine, I am not really denying the fact that we have many of them. But, for instance, if you want to prove a case of rape, rape has points to prove,” Adejobi said.
“If anyone of those points is missing you may lose your case in court. Let us be reasonable. You cannot arrest somebody, you want to prosecute without having such credible evidence against such a person.”
He responded when asked whether it is illegal to crossdress in Nigeri, saying, “I do not think so. I have not read anywhere that it is an offence per se. But for some of them that are into cross-dressing, the allegation is that they are into something else, unnatural offences.
“That is where the problem lies. We need to have enough proof, credible evidence to prove that they are actually into that. All those offences are natural offences in Nigeria and are punishable under our law,” he added.
“If you dress, finc, you want to enjoy your liberty. But if you are into something else that is criminal, unnatural offences. Many people have been saying that, but let us have enough evidence to nail the individual who is into that dirty thing, law will take its course.”
The House of Representatives set up a bill to outlaw crossdressing in Nigeria in April 2022.
The “practice of wearing clothes usually worn by a person of the opposite sex” is what crossdressing is defined as in the bill, which attempts to change the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act (SSMPA).
The terms “shall not apply to crossdressing in the course of a stage play or in any bona fide public entertainment,” according to the proposed revision, which offered an exception.
If legislation is implemented, crossdressers who carry out their current behavior might spend up to six months in jail.
In 2020, Bobrisky disclosed that she had chosen to become a transvestite in order to make ends meet following 25 years as a guy.
The social media celebrity also discussed some of the benefits of being a “woman” in September 2021.
Bobrisky was arrested yesterday over ‘abuse of Naria.’
No comments:
Leave comment here