CROSS RIVER – MASQUERADES (CONTROL) LAW

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LAWS OF CROSS RIVER STATE

CHAPTER M5

MASQUERADES (CONTROL) LAW

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

PART I

Permits for Assembly and Procession of Masquerade

SECTION

1. Prohibition of unauthorised masquerade.
2. Application for and issue of permit.
3. Permit to specify squares and routes.

PART II

Offences

4. Masquerader straying.
5. Wearing traditional outfit.
6. Causing harm or injury.
7. Breaking into dwelling houses, etc.
8. Demanding with threats.
9. Offences under another law.

PART III

Miscellaneous Provisions

10. Arrest without warrant.
11. Register of masqueraders.
12. Interpretation.
13. Short title.

 

 

CHAPTER M5

MASQUERADES (CONTROL) LAW

(17th July, 1987)

[Commencement]

PART I

Permits for Assembly and Procession of Masquerade

1. Prohibition of unauthorised masquerade

No masquerade shall assemble or proceed on any procession, anywhere in the State unless the recognised leader responsible for such masquerade has obtained from the Commissioner a permit.

2. Application for and issue of permit

(1)     Whenever any masquerade desires to assemble or proceed on any procession, the recognized leader of such masquerade shall submit an application in writing to the Commissioner, for a permit.

(2)     The said application shall—

(a)     specify the date and hour of the assembly or procession of such masquerade;

(b)     specify the square or other place where such masquerade may assemble;

(c)     specify the routes through which such masquerade may proceed on its procession; and

(d)     guarantee that such masquerade shall peaceably assemble, peaceably conduct its procession and peaceably disperse.

(3)     The recognised leader of such masquerade shall make the said application not later than three days before the date of such assembly or procession as the case may be.

(4)     The Commissioner shall, unless he has reasonable cause to fear that the assembly or procession of such masquerade may occasion a breach of the peace, issue a permit to the said recognised leader.

(5)     Where the Commissioner refuses to grant such permit, the recognised leader of such masquerade may appeal to the Governor to grant such permit and his decision shall be final.

3. Permit to specify squares and routes

A permit issued under section 2 (4) of this Law shall specify—

(a)     the date and hour of the assembly or procession, as the case may be, of such masquerade;

(b)     the square or other place where such masquerade may assemble and the route through which such masquerade may proceed on its procession.

PART II

Offences

4. Masquerader straying

Any masquerader who strays outside the square or other place authorised under a permit issued under section 2 (4) of this Law, is guilty of an offence and liable upon conviction to imprisonment for three months or a fine of ₦200.00 or both such imprisonment and fine.

5. Wearing traditional outfit

A masquerade may wear the traditional mask and other outfit by which the masquerade, to which he belongs is distinguished:

Provided that a masquerade shall not use such outfit or any part thereof to cause any harm or injury to any person.

6. Causing harm or injury

Any masquerader who causes harm or injury to any person is guilty of an offence and liable upon conviction to imprisonment for one year without any option of a fine.

7. Breaking into dwelling houses, etc.

Any masquerader who breaks into a dwelling house or enters upon any premises, shall be guilty of an offence, and liable upon conviction to imprisonment for one year or a fine of ₦1,000.00 or to both such fine and imprisonment and for six months without any option of a fine.

8. Demanding with threats

Any masquerader who demands any gift from any person, with threats or menaces, or to the annoyance of such person, is guilty of an offence and liable upon conviction to imprisonment for six months without any option of a fine.

9. Offences under another law

Any masquerader who commits any offence under any other written law, may without prejudice to the provisions of this Law, be prosecuted under that law.

PART III

Miscellaneous Provisions

10. Arrest without warrant

A police officer or any person in whose view any masquerader commits an offence or is likely to commit an offence, may arrest such masquerader without warrant.

11. Register of masqueraders

(1)     The recognised leader of every masquerade shall keep a register of the names and addresses of all the masqueraders who belong to such masquerade and shall assist the police in the investigation of any offending masquerader belonging to such masquerade.

(2)     Any recognised leader who fails to comply with the provisions of subsection (1) of this section is guilty of an offence and liable upon conviction to imprisonment for one year without any option of a fine.

12. Interpretation

In this Law—

“Commissioner” means Commissioner of Police or any superior officer not below the

rank of an Assistant Superintendent of Police, in charge of a police office, station or post;

“Governor” means Governor of the State;

“masquerade” means an assembly or group of two or more masqueraders;

“masquerader” means masquerader belonging to any masquerade or group of masqueraders;

“permit” means permit authorizing a masquerade to assemble anywhere in the State or to proceed on any procession, as the case may be;

“recognised leader” means the head, or chief of any masquerade;

“State” means Cross River State of Nigeria.

13. Short title

This Law may be cited as the Masquerades (Control) Law.

 

CHAPTER M5

MASQUERADES (CONTROL) LAW

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION

No Subsidiary Legislation