Nollywood: CDGN put the Value and Worth of Police Uniform on Trials;

Nollywood: CDGN put the Value and Worth of Police Uniform on Trials;

By Bolaji O. Akinyemi.

 

The recent arraignment of the VeryDarkMan in court by the Nigeria police came to many as a surprise but according to the police authority under the leadership of the embattled IGP, Mr Egbetokun whose stay beyond the statutory period is on public trials is to sustain the Force’s stance on maintaining the integrity of uniform and preventing unauthorised usage. Ensuring the authorised usage of the Nigerian police uniform I am at home with, but on the integrity of the police uniform I am lost. It is a mockery of our existential reality.

 

The interface with Omoyele Sowore on the Road leading to the International Airport in Lagos is nothing but a reflection of poor public relations approach of the Nigerian police to visitors coming into Nigeria and leaving the country. What is termed “unruly” conduct of Sowore is actually the unexpressed felling of an average citizen once the police uniform is sighted at road blocks, fear and courage is the difference between Sowore and many Nigerians. I think one of the major problem of the police is its disconnection from the people or should I say pretence of how they are perceived by the public. If the Police has chosen to live in pretence of their worth and value, I think a public opinion poll on that may help the government to make decision on police reforms.

Nollywood Industry is beyond movie making and marketing. It isĀ  our number one international public relations platform. They have sold Nigeria to the world, for which Nigerians generally are appreciative except, may be the Nigerian police as things are turning out.

The best of Nollywood action films were shot in the era when Mike Okiro was either in Lagos as Commissioner or when he became the IGP, his love and support for the industry translated to exposure for industry practitioners and economic growth for the country. Movie with police scenes were shot with strategic support from the Nigerian police, using nice uniforms that enhance our image as a nation. The best of their vehicles, kits and arms were made available, you can lay your hands on; Broad daylight, a film that had as Executive Producer

Ossy Affasy, which was produced and directed by the iconic Teco Benson. The Security Props for the project was done by Joy Osawaru, one, all male cast production, that took viewership to a new height at its time. Some of the cast are! Bob Emmanuel, Hanks Anuku, Elebeli Elebuwa (late), Tony Voltron, Ernest Azuzu, Gentle Jack, Robert Peters, Gbenga Richard and Johnson Davidson, just to mention a few of our heroes past and living.

 

The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is not unaware of the threat that youthful idleness constitutes to a nation whose citizens average age is 16. Little surprise, that the ministry of creative economy was created to mop the talents in the country through the industry for productive engagement, enhanced capacity building, give direction and turn it into a money spinner for our economy. On this the Minister is interpreting the body language of the Administration well and the newly appointed Executive Director of the Nigerian Films and Video Censors Board; Dr Shuaibu Hussein, a proud ambassador of Igala cultural heritage of Kogi State is delivering.

 

May the labour of our heroes past never be in vain. If this prayer would be answered for the President, the Minister and the Executive Director in the context of Nollywood industry, the Nigerian police would be the angel to take the request to God and deliver the answer back to Nigerians.

 

Oputa, not Charly Boy, but Salome Oputa, a leading member of Creative Designers Guilds of Nigeria is the one on the drama stage with the Nigeria police. CDGN is one of the many Guilds giving the industry its life as the creative power of the industry. Salome is one of the dependable hands when it comes to custumes. It happened that she had given out a police uniform costume out to Joseph for production who sent it back to her through a delivery company upon leaving the location for the production to another location outside Lagos.

 

 

Mr Felix Alphonsus Jimi, husband of Rachel and Father of 3 children, a native Uyo in Akwa Ibom State. Who lives at Oga in Ifo Ogun State, and comes all the way daily, to ekk a living by delivery was rider contacted to deliver the uniform to Salome Oputa. On his daily duty dignifying errands to earn a legitimate living, he was stopped by the officers of the Nigerian police attached to Orile Police Station in Lagos, who were on a routine stop and search at Orile Bus Stop, on sighting the costume (police uniform), he was arrested and taken to the police station on Thursday, 30th of February 2025.

 

My wife of course as the President of CDGN had led Exco members from across the country on a visit to the IGP on the 9th of September 2024, deploying huge resources in travel expenses and accommodation. To seek the understanding of the IGP and the entire police force because of the sensitive nature of their work to forestall situations such as this. Police understanding and authority is the only process that redefines certain costumes possession away from criminality. But their efforts travelling from different parts of the country to Abuja where they were received by the Deputy Force PPRO, CSP Isuku Victor E. on behalf of the IGP is in this context proving fruitless, except the situation is redeemed.

 

Oputa got into police net on Sunday the 2nd of February by 12noon to join Felix who by now has been in police detention for days. The onus was on my wife as the President of CDGN to seek their release. She told me of her movement when I was leaving Lagos on Saturday the 1st of February at which time only Felix was still in police detention. My reaction was, “Orile Police Station is notorious for arm twisting”, I only pray that God will help you. By 3:30 PM on Monday the 4th of February, 2025, I called to return Leo’s call and to check on my wife. By which time Felix the rider has been in police custody from Thursday to Monday and Salome Oputa from 12 noon on Sunday. Over 24 hours spent on orchestratedĀ  drama to extort, by officers of Orile Police Station who had demanded identification from her. The team of Executives who came for her bail also identified themselves. True to the public opinion of them the mischievous ambassadors of the Nigerian police, lost whatever could be referred to as professional discretion.

 

The President, Joy Osawaru-Akinyemi, in the company of the National Secretary, Leo Omoseebi, and others identified themselves to, the DPO and his team of commercial officers. The reports I got was damning; the police were demanding 500k, and in order to create fear to justify their demands, they became Nollywood Actors, acting the script by pretending to take them to court on a Monday, so when I called, Omoseebi shared with me what their experience has been; smelling a rat, I told them the court doesn’t sit on Monday. I asked to speak to Oputa who was already fidgeting about going to court. I psyched her and told her it is more honourable to go to court than bribe the police with 500k. I requested for the contact of the DPO and I sent him this message:

 

A very pleasant afternoon Sir.

 

The general notion about Orile Police Station is that it is as notorious as the environment it is serving.

 

DPO, Sir, I don’t know for how long you have been there, but the reputation of Orile Police Station will be lifted under you by the grace of God.

 

The feedback I have on the case regarding police uniform with a CDGN member is not a pleasant one at all. I understand that the Executive Director of the Industry and the Force PPRO have intervened.

 

My wife is the President of the CDGN, nothing meaningful has been done at home and all other things are left in her care, because she’s stuck with her member.

 

Please, for my sake let this go, I beg you in the name of the Lord. I will personally come and see you to appreciate you when I am back Sir.

 

Quite well they were released and were asked to come back on Tuesday by 10:00AM. When my wife told me, knowing the antics of the police at making life unbearable once they sense their “bush meat” has escaped from their trap. I told her, they should be prepared for arraignment when they show up the following day. But they are all naive Nigerians who choose to believe the police rather than take my counsel. What is so special about the police telling the people they planned to arraign in court the following day to be prepared! Are police truly and really our friends as we are often told?

 

Tuesday, 5th February at Court 3 Surulere Lagos, Salome Oputa and Felix Alphonsus Jimi, were put on trials by the police. But as things will turned out, it was the police uniform that came on tried. The Magistrate, Hon Adesanya, requested the police to tender the uniform as evidence for admission but the police couldn’t. Rather a picture of the uniform was tended with the promise to present the uniform during trials. In the course of the trials the Magistrate asked the IPO if Oputa identified herself, to which he responded, maybe, to the DPO.

 

In a bid to determine the bail value the IPO was asked, what is the value of the police uniform, he responded, he doesn’t know. the worth and value of police uniform the symbol of the force that Police are daily defaming on Nigeria Roads, but the IGP erroneously believes his men are protecting its integrity his officer doesn’t know.

 

Salome Oputa, as I pen this piece is in prison custody for her love and commitment to the industry. The Dream of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for Creative economy is in chains and the Nollywood as an Industry is presently on trials, will Salome and Felix be left off the hook on Thursday 6th February 2025? Time, only will tell!That is the reality of Salome Oputa’s situation. This may be the opportunity that the owners of the industry; Actors and others alike, have to call attention to the risk and hostility that comes with keeping us entertained.

 

Here is the summary of Nollywood arrest and creative economy in chains, chiefly supervised by Taofeek Bello, Divisional Police Officer, Orile Police Station.

 

This of course is corroborated by the report sent by Leo Omoseebi to the Executive Director, Nigeria Films and Video Censors Board as the regulator of the industry.

 

Good evening sir,

 

Kindly find below a brief breakdown of the situation with our member; Salome Oputa.

 

1- The DPO of the Orile police station released our member Salome and Despatch rider Chris yesterday with an instruction to be back today at the station by 10am.

 

2- Both Salome and Chris were charged to court and the case heard by the magistrate at court 3 Surulere .

 

3- We understand that this magistrate stood in for another and we were given bail conditions for both accused to come with 2 sureties each .

 

4- We were unable to perfect the bail when both defendants were taken to prison custody

 

5- We will perfect these by tomorrow and await another court hearing on Thursday.

 

6- Thus far the process has been professionally done, though jarring especially with a lot of details being unfamiliar .

 

7- We thank you sir for your intervention and support this far and even as the law takes its course we are desirous of the following

 

8-Getting the case dropped .

 

9- by way of leaning on the police authorityā€™s with the soft powers of the film industry under your regularity purview

 

10- Our take is that this shows still aĀ  big lacuna between how filmmakers are treated and the operational priorities of law enforcement

 

11- We think this affords a unique opportunity to close ranks and also get the wider community to appreciate the protections that registered guilds and associations enjoy under the supervisory framework of the granular and proactive involvement of the industry regulator in this case, your indefatigable self .

 

12- At this point we are persuaded that this snafu would serve to accelerate whatever legal frameworks we can fashion between the security agencies and CDGN in particular.

 

13- We envision a situation that CDGN has a cover letter that leaves the onus of tactical initiative and discretion of security personnel to the basic identification of members with special props and costumes to their verified identification as CDGN members

 

14- We are very motivated to accede to your leadership and guidance on this ask of ours .

 

15- We remain committed and confident that your leadership will continue to break new ground for us all .

 

16 – Other details will be provide on your personal inquiry

 

17- By tomorrow the surety for our member will be at court to continue from

Where they stopped . One of whom is the National Secretary of the guild and a blood relation of the embattled guild member .

 

Thank you sir and hope this gives context to what has transpired so far .

 

NB- We avoided some of the ā€œcultural expectations ā€œ when there is a police case because we thought it would be setting an unsustainable precedent and we remain hopeful that we would not be treated the same way as interlopers who shun industry regulation.

 

Many thanks for all time Sir.

 

Salome Oputa’s fate hangs in the balance. My greatest worry is for the unfortunate rider who in search of daily bread has been stuck for a whole week.

 

See you in Court 3, Surulere on Thursday, 6th February 2025, when we hope to secure the release of Salome Oputa and Felix A. Jimi from the Prison Custody.

 

 

Dr. Bolaji O. Akinyemi is an Apostle and Nation Builder. Heā€™s also President Voice of His Word Ministries and Convener Apostolic Round Table. BoT Chairman, Project Victory Call Initiative, AKA PVC Naija. He is a strategic Communicator and the C.E.O, Masterbuilder Communications.

 

Email:bolajiakinyemi66@gmail.com

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