Actress Akindele And Husband Sentenced, Fined 200K For Violating Lockdown

Nollywood actress and producer, Funke Akindele, and her husband, Abdul Rasheed Bello (popularly known as JJC Skillz) was on Monday, sentenced to a 14-day community service each, by Chief magistrate Yewande Aje-Afunwa of Ogba Magistrate Court, Lagos State.

The spouse who was recently charged to the court for violating the 'Stay At Home' order placed by the State Government to curtail further spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), was also fined N100, 000 each in addition to the Community Service.

According to the Magistrate Aje-Afunwa, the couple is also to go into self-isolation for fourteen days in an undisclosed location, which will be decided by the Lagos state Ministry of Health.

On the Community Service, he said the couple would serve a minimum of three hours per day (excluding Saturdays and Sundays), and must each visit ten public places each day to educate people on the consequences of not complying with directives on coronavirus.

The couple who earlier pleaded guilty was represented by their counsel, Abayomi Alagbada, while the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyo Onigbanjo (SAN) was the prosecutor.

As was confirmed by the Lagos State's Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos, DSP Bala Elkana, the Nollywood star and her husband was arrested on Sunday for hosting a birthday party for her husband in an estate along Ajah in the Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State on Saturday.

The party, he said, had a large number of people in attendance, and consequently violated the state government's restriction orders against the spread of COVID-19.

According to him, the arrest by the police detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Yaba, came shortly after the video of the birthday party circulated, consequent upon which the duo was prosecuted, to face charges connected with breaking the Lagos State Infectious Disease 2020 Regulation under the Public Health Law.

DSP Elkana noted that police had commenced further investigation and is making efforts to arrest other persons identified in the video, who may also be charged to court after investigation.

Among those identified in the video, was singer Azeez Fashola (a.k.a Naira Marley) who has willingly surrendered himself, and is now in poice custody.

It would be recalled that the Lagos State House of Assembly recently passed the Lagos State Infectious Disease 2020 Regulation (under the Public Health Law), which was signed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The law recommends a fine of N100,000 for defaulters, one-month imprisonment or three-month Community Service.

There is also a clause that could see offenders pay up to N200,000.