Amid a campaign against Bobrisky and other cross-dressers, the Kano government has banned films that promote cross-dressing.
All motion pictures and theatrical shows that encourage thuggery and cross-dressing have been outlawed in Kano State by the government.
Abdullah Sani Sulaiman, the State’s Censorship Board’s media officer, made this announcement in a press release.
This order was issued in reaction to growing local concerns about things that they felt went against their cultural beliefs.
The board declared, “It is past time we put an end to these kinds of films that defile the Kano people’s morals.”
In order to gain popularity, viewers, or financial gain, the board said that it was “high time to fish out any film that may demoralise our customs, norms, and values.”
The state’s citizens were also congratulated by the board for their alertness in reporting any content that they believed to be contrary to Islamic and cultural values.
Cross-dressing is not illegal in Nigeria, according to the Nigerian Police Force, as SaharaReporters has documented.
Despite calls for the socialite’s arrest, the Nigeria Police Force stated on Tuesday that it was unable to apprehend well-known cross-dresser Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, best known by his stage name Bobrisky.
Bobrisky’s arrest has been demanded, particularly after blogger and social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, criticised the cross-dresser for winning Best Dressed Female at a Nollywood event in recent videos.
However, Olumuyiwa Ademola, the Force Public Relations Officer, told Channels TV on Tuesday that there was no law in Nigeria prohibiting cross-dressing, thus anyone who dressed differently could not be detained.
He added that there is no proof to back up the idea that those who cross dress are also members of the LGBTQ+ community.
“There are certain cases that are always very difficult to prove,” he stated.
It’s not ruled out that there are a lot of them. Let’s be realistic: you cannot have someone you wish to charge without having solid proof. I haven’t come across any literature stating that cross-dressing is illegal in Nigeria.
“It is alleged that some of them who enjoy cross-dressing are into something else.
That is the source of the issue. To demonstrate that they are sincere in their interest, we must have sufficient and reliable proof. In Nigeria, all of above offences are considered natural crimes and are subject to legal punishment.
Nonetheless, same-sex partnerships and marriage are illegal in Nigeria.
On January 7, 2014, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan signed the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill into law.
Public demonstrations of affection between same-sex couples are prohibited by law.
Anyone who “[enters] into a same-sex marriage contract or civil union” faces a 14-year prison sentence under the statute. Additionally, it punishes people or organizations—including religious leaders—for ten years if they “witness, abet, and aid in the solemnization of a same-sex marriage or union.”
Anybody who “registers, operates, or participates in gay clubs, societies, and organisations,” including those who support such groups, faces a 10-year prison sentence. Additionally, anyone who “directly or indirectly make [a] public show of [a] same-sex amorous relationship” is susceptible to prosecution.