Funke Akindele And Husband Arraigned for Flouting Lockdown Order

Following her arrest for flouting the Lagos State lockdown order and ban of gatherings of persons numbering more than 10, popular actress, Funke Akindele has been arraigned before a Lagos Court. The Lagos State Police Command, yesterday, arrested popular actress, Mrs. Funke Akindele-Bello for hosting a party to celebrate the birthday of her husband, Abdulrasheed Bello aka JJC Skillz on Saturday in contravention of the lockdown order in Lagos State.

On Saturday, April 4, 2020, the actress threw a party that had over 20 people in attendance to celebrate her husband's birthday.

Nigerian singer, Azeez Fashola aka Naira Marley and Akindele-Bello's friend, Eniola Badmus were also at the party. Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, a businessman and politician, who was the Governorship Candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in the 2019 election was also at the party. Following the arrest of the actress, Gbadamosi took to his Twitter page to apologise, saying he had gone to the Bello's residence thinking he would only meet the family and their staff.

Thousands of Nigerians on social media called for the arrest Akindele, popularly called ‘Jenifa’.

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The actress 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.

The actress stated that none of her guests violated the lockdown order. Disclosing this in a video, Funke said she would never mislead anybody, noting that she practices what she preaches.

“It was my husband’s birthday. Both of us run a studio which is located in Amen Estate where we live. When the pandemic started, we stopped all productions including our new projects. But before the lockdown was announced by our President, some youths have been in the boot camp here in Amen Estate – majority of the youths were those you saw in the video.

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“Naira Marley came in here before the lockdown. And when the lockdown was announced, he said he would love to stay back, saying he loves this environment. Then my husband’s birthday came up. And we all came together as a family.

“Everybody in that video had been in Amen Estate some months before, weeks before and days before the lockdown. Nobody came from their houses to party with us. I am sorry if I have misled you. I appreciate your concerns and I promise to always practice what I preach.

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“I promise to always support the government in creating more awareness to eradicate this pandemic.”

Recall that Police had instructed Naira Marley and Funke’s husband to submit selves for interrogation or risked being placed in the forces wanted list, for violating social distancing order.

Meanwhile, Nigerians on social media had severely criticised Akindele for hosting a house party during a lockdown in the state.

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Funke Akindele-Bello and her husband, AbdulRasheed Bello popularly known JJC Skillz have since then, been arraigned before a Lagos court.

She was arraigned in court for defiling the orders of the Lagos state government which had ordered Lagosians to stay at home. After reading the charges brought before them by the Magistrate, Yewande Aje-Afunwa, Akindele and her husband both pleaded guilty.

The Lagos Infection Diseases Regulations, 2020 (the Regulations) 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.

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