What The Criminal Code Says About Civilians Who Put On Camouflage. Should This Law Be Amended Or Na?

Have Your Say. Or do not say you were not told.
 

The military uniform is a peculiar symbolism with a long history and tradi­tion which has been adopted by armies since the seventeenth century. It also calls for respect and fear and sym­bolizes strength and power. While it is horrible for soldiers to beat up civilians, there’s a law in the Nigerian criminal code that bars anyone from unlawfully wearing camouflage outfits. We explain the code below:

The Nigerian Criminal Code


Sections 110 & 111 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act, L.N. 112 of 1964, 1967 No. 27 states; “Any person who- Unlawfully wears the uniform of forces, etc. (1) not be­ing a person serving in any of the armed forces of Nigeria, wears the uniform or any part of the uni­form of such forces, or any of the armed dress having the appearance or bearing any of the regimental or other distinctive marks of such uniforms.

“(2) not being a person holding any office or authority under the Government of Nige­ria or of any part thereof, wears any uniform or distinctive badge or mark or carries any token cal­culated to convey the impression that such person holds any office or authority under the govern­ment; is guilty of an offence and is liable to imprisonment for one month, or to a fine of ten naira, unless he proves that he had the permission of the President or of the Governor of a State or wear such uniform or dress, badge or mark or to carry such token: Provided that this section shall not apply to the wearing of any uniform or dress in the course of a stage play or in any bona fide public entertainment.

Section 111 provides, “Any person who sells or gives any uniform, or part of any dress, badge or mark, as in the last pre­ceding section mentioned, to any person who is not authorised to wear the same, is guilty of an of­fence and is liable to the penalties prescribed in the said section.

Section 251 of the Constitution also states; Any person who, not being a person serving in any of the armed or police forces of Nigeria, wears the uniform of any of these forces, or any dress having the appearance or bearing any of the regimental or other distinc­tive marks of any such uniform, in such manner or in such circumstances as to be likely to bring contempt on that uniform, or employs any other person so to wear such uniform or dress, is guilty of a simple offence, and is liable to imprisonment for three months or to a fine of forty naira.”

The Military cannot unilaterally constitute the Prosecutor and the Judge by charging a person for wearing army uniforms and has no jurisdiction to deal with civilians. If a civilian contravenes the law of Nigeria, in accordance with the rule of law, such a person is charged to court and not disciplined the same way the military court-martials can deal with their military personnel who are subject to service law.

It is, therefore, important that the public respects national symbols of authority including the use of uniform accoutrements because it’s a symbol of es­prit de corps which distinguishes the members of armed forces from the rest of the population.


isorite....What say Nigerians who just wear it for the fun of it and whose camouflage do not look impersonating.