COVID-19: Funke Akindele, Spouse Plead Guilty To Social Distancing Charge
- To pay N100,000 fine each
- Get 14 days community service
BY CHINYERE OBIORA, LAGOS –Popular Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele-Bello and her husband, Abdulrasheed Bello, have pleaded guilty to flouting the Lagos state government stay-at-home order on Lagosians.
The directive, put in place by the Federal Government, was further strengthened by Lagos State as part of measures to check the spread of coronavirus pandemic in the State.
Akindele, well-known for her trade mark soap opera, Jenifa, and Bello, popularly called, JJC Skillz, were on Monday arraigned before an Ogba Chief Magistrates’ Court over the birthday party she organised for her spouse last Saturday.
The party took place at their No 9, Gbadamosi Close, Amen Estate, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos residence in contravention of the lockdown order on social distancing that places a ban on any gathering of more than 20 people.
They were arraigned on a one-count charge before Magistrate Y. O. Aje–Afunwa. Both were represented by their counsel, Abayomi Alagbada.
The prosecution counsel, who is the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyo Onigbanjo (SAN), told the court that Funke and her husband, flouted the Lagos State Governor’s order when they gathered more than 20 people at their Lekki home for the birthday bash.
Dated April 6, 2020, number MIK/A/43/2020, the charge was signed by the Director, Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), Yaquib Oshoala.
It stated: “That you (1) Funke Akindele (2) Abdul Rasheed Bello on the 4th day of April 2020 at 9 Gbadamosi Close, Amen Estate, Ibeju-Lekki in the Lagos Magisterial District gathered at the aforementioned address with over twenty persons contrary to the social distancing directives of Mr Governor of Lagos State made pursuant to Regulation 8(1)(a) & (b) and 17(1)“) of the Lagos State Infectious Disease (Emergency and Prevention) Regulation 2020, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 58 Public Health Law Cap P16, Vol 9 Laws of the Lagos State, 2015.”
Funke Akindele, however, pleaded guilty to the charge. In pleading for leniency, her counsel, Alagbada stated that the defendant and husband are respectable members of the society; first offenders; and have two kids that they are taking care of at present.
After taking Funke and her husband’s guilty plea, Magistrate Aje-Afunwa stood the matter down for 30 minutes and went into her chamber.
The Magistrate thereafter fined the couple N100,000 each, with 14 days of community service for breaching the social distancing law of Lagos State.
