Legal practitioner, Ewa Smart, has called on the Rivers State Commissioner of Police to investigate videos circulating online which allegedly show young men holding hands and dancing romantically during the recently concluded Garri Festival in Port Harcourt.
Smart urged the police to identify and, where appropriate, arrest those involved, alleging that the videos depicted a public display of same-sex affection during the event.
He cited Section 4(1) of the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2013, which criminalises the public display of an amorous relationship between persons of the same sex.
According to him, the provision covers acts such as holding hands, hugging, kissing, dancing romantically, sitting on each other’s laps and cuddling in public.
Smart said such conduct, if established, could attract criminal liability under Section 5(2) of the Act.
He stressed that the provisions apply to both male and female same-sex relationships, adding that the circulating videos should be treated as a matter requiring police investigation.
“The circulating videos of boys holding hands and dancing romantically to music should be taken seriously,” Smart said.
He called on the Commissioner of Police and the Nigeria Police Force in Rivers State to investigate the circumstances surrounding the videos and take appropriate action if any offence is established.
Smart further alleged that there was a “wanton public display of same-sex relationships” at the event, describing the alleged conduct as a violation of the law.
