By Ayo Kehinde
Funke Akindele and husband, Bello
Popular actress and producer, Funke Akindele and her husband Abdul Rasheed Bello have been sentenced to 14-day community service and fined N100,000 each for violating Covid -19 induced restriction orders in Lagos state on April 6.
They were arrested by the police in Lagos “following a viral video showing a large number of persons mainly in the entertainment industry in an Estate, along Ajah, Ibeju-Lekki axis, Lagos celebrating a birthday party organised by Funke Akindele Bello and her husband Abdul Rasheed Bello.”
They were charged to the Chief Magistrate Court 1, Ogba, Lagos by detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, according to DSP Bala Elkana, Public Relations Officer of the Lagos Command of the Nigerian Police, in a statement.
When the charge was read to them by the court, they both pleaded guilty and the prosecuting team, led by the Attorney General of Lagos State, Moyosore Onigbajo, SAN, urged the court to sentence them.
Elkana said: “The Court found them guilty as charged and sentenced as follows: The defendants are to pay a fine of 100,000 each, sentenced to 14 days community service, three hours per day, excluding Saturday and Sunday; each Defender shall visit 10 important public places within Lagos State to educate the public on the consequences of non compliance with the restriction order; and they must submit the names and phone numbers of every person who attended the party. They shall be placed on isolation by the State Government to determine their COVID-19 status. Failure to abide by the above directives shall attract more severe punishments.
” The brief facts of the case as contained in the charge are: On 04/04/2020, the two accused persons held a party at their residents with over twenty persons in attendance contrary to the social distancing directives made in pursuant to Regulation 8(1)(a) and (b) & 17(1)(i) of the Lagos State Infectious Disease (Emergency Prevention) Regulations 2020 and therefore committed an offence under Section 58 of the Public Health Law Cap P16 Vol. 9, Laws of Lagos State 2015.
Also the police announced that, ” Azeez Fashola a.k.a Naira Marley is now in Police custody. He will also be charged to Court for violating the restriction orders. The Command has launched a manhunt for the remaining persons who attended the party. The Commissioner of Police Lagos State Command, CP Hakeem Odumosu psc expressed his profound gratitude to Lagosians and other well meaning Nigerians that speak up against the violations. Together we can stop the spread of COVID-19. “
