The Nigeria Police Force has given reasons why it can’t arrest cross-dressers in the country.
Speaking during an interview on Channels TV, the spokesman of the Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said there was no provision in Nigerian law suggesting that crossdressers should be arrested.
Mr Adejobi stated this while reacting to concerns about the proliferation of crossdressers in Nigeria.
Recently, a famous crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, was awarded the ‘Best Dressed Female’ at the ‘Ajakaju’ movie premiere.
The decision of the organisers generated controversy and debate across social media platforms.
But Mr Adejobi said certain cases are hard to prove without evidence.
“I have not read anywhere that crossdressing is an offence in Nigeria. Let us be reasonable, you cannot arrest somebody you want to prosecute without having credible evidence, and as such, cross-dressing is not yet a crime in Nigeria.
“Some of them that are into cross dressing, the allegation is that they are into something else, that’s where the problem lies. We need to have enough proof that they are actually into ‘that’.
“All those offences are natural offences in Nigeria, and they are punishable under our laws,” Mr Adejobi stressed.
He further emphasised that even to prove and prosecute anyone for natural offences, the police must have adequate proof that can hold its own in court.
