Police Can't Arrest Crossdressers Without Evidence:

Police spokesperson ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi addresses concerns over crossdressing
Emphasizes that crossdressing alone is not a crime in Nigeria
Credible evidence of “unnatural offences” is required for arrests, Adejobi states

Eko Hot Blog reports that in a clarification regarding the legal stance on crossdressing in Nigeria, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has revealed that the act itself is not a criminal offense.

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During an appearance on Channels TV, Adejobi explained that for crossdressers to be arrested, there must be proof of their involvement in “unnatural offences.”

Addressing the complexities surrounding such cases, Adejobi stated, “There are some cases that are always very difficult. I am not running away from 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. If any one of those points is missing, you may lose your case in court. Let us be reasonable. You can’t arrest somebody because you want to prosecute without having any credible evidence against such a possible.”

On the specific issue of crossdressing being a crime, Adejobi clarified, “I don’t think so because I have not read anywhere it is stated it is an offence per se, but although some of them that are into crossdressing, the allegation is that they are into unnatural offences, that is where the problem lies. You need to have enough proof, credible evidence to prove that they are actually into that.”

The police spokesperson’s statement sheds light on the legal requirements for arrests related to crossdressing, emphasizing the need for substantial evidence beyond the act itself. This stance aims to uphold due process and prevent arbitrary arrests without credible grounds.