The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele popularly known as ‘Jenifa’, and her husband, Abdulrasheed Bello also known as JJC Skillz, in a Chief Magistrate Court in Ogba for flouting the lockdown order in Lagos State.
This was made known by the Lagos state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana on Monday.
They were arraigned for breaching the Lagos Infection Diseases Regulations 2020 (the Regulations) which 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.
Funke Akindele who held a birthday for her husband with guests from the entertainment industry in attendance, had earlier apologised via her Twitter handle to fans who condemned her for going against what she preached, after she appeared in a video sponsored by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control, NCDC and Dettol sensitizing the public on proper hygiene during the Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria.
In her appeal, she said, “I have seen all the messages on Social Media. I will not intentionally mislead people.
“It was my husband’s birthday (on Saturday). 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.
“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.
“I said okay fine. 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.
“I promise to always support the government in creating more awareness to eradicate this pandemic.”
The NCDC and Dettol have since dissociated themselves from the actress, saying she is not their Ambassador.
