Nollywood superstar, Funke Akindele popularly known as Jenifa, has been arrested for hosting a brithday party that contravened the Lagos State Government’s Lockdown order.
Funke was arrested today, Sunday for hosting a party on Saturday in honour of her husband, Abdul Rasheed Bello popularly known as JJC Skillz.
The party attracted more than the permissible guests in line with the restriction order to contain COVID-19 pandemic.
Singer, Azeez Fashola aka Naira Marley, also graced the party, which had over 20 others in attendance.
Thousands of Nigerians on social media called for the arrest Akindele, popularly called ‘Jenifa’.
The actress, who is said to be an ambassador for the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Dettol, has appeared in adverts calling on Nigerians to observe social distancing and hygiene.
She later apologised over the incident, saying most of those who attended the party were colleagues, who were living temporarily within the estate and could not return to their home states because of the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lagos Police
spokesperson, DSP Bala Elkana, confirmed arrest of the actress.
In a statement this evening, he said: “Attention of Lagos
State Police Command was drawn to 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.
“Police detectives from the State CID Yaba were promptly
drafted to the location.
“Funke Akindele was arrested. Investigation is ongoing,
efforts are intensified to arrest the remaining persons in the video, among
whom are Azeez Fashola a.k.a Naira Marley and Abdul Rasheed Bello a.k.a. JJC
Skillz.
“They are in their best interests urged to report at the
State CID Yaba on Monday 6th April, 2020 or risk being declared wanted.”
The Lagos Infection Diseases Regulation 2020 prescribes a jail term of one month or N100,000 fine or both for persons found guilty of hosting gatherings or flouting the lockdown order.
It reads in part, “Where there is a violation of a close-down or stay at home order, security Agencies shall have power to arrest without warrant and may detain any person who violates the closedown or stay at home order for at least forty-eight (48) hours.
“Where the arrested person is found guilty, the person is liable to a fine of one Hundred Thousand Nara fine (N100,000.00) or one (1) month imprisonment or three (3) months Community service.”
