Funke Akindele, Hubby Sentenced To 14-Day Community Service

Funke Akindele and her husband, AbdulRasheed Bello, aka JJC Skillz, on Monday have been convicted and sentenced to 14-Day Community Service and a fine of N100,000 each by the Chief Magistrate Court 1 Ogba, Lagos.

The celebrity couple were on 6th April, 2020 arraigned in the Lagos court on one count charge of holding a party at their residence with over 20 persons in attendance contrary to the social distancing directives made in pursuant to Regulation 8(1)(a) and (b) & 17(1)(i) of the Lagos State Infectious Disease (Emergency Prevention) Regulations 2020 and therefore committed an offence under Section 58 of the Public Health Law Cap P16 Vol. 9, Laws of Lagos State 2015.

They were brought to Court by detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department Yaba led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of investigation, DCP Yetunde Longe.

The prosecuting team was lead by the Attorney General of Lagos State, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN.

The charge was read to the accused persons by the Court and they pleaded guilty.

The Court found them guilty as charged and sentenced as follows: The defendants are to pay a fine of N100,000, sentenced to 14 days of community service, three hours per day, excluding Saturday and Sunday; each Defender shall visit 10 important public places within Lagos State to educate the public on the consequences of non compliance with the restriction order; and they must submit the names and phone numbers of every person who attended the party.

They shall be placed on isolation by the State Government to determine their COVID-19 status.

Failure to abide by the above directives shall attract more severe punishments.

The brief facts of the case as contained in the charge are: On 04/04/2020, the two accused persons held a party at their residents with over twenty persons in attendance contrary to the social distancing directives made in pursuant to Regulation 8(1)(a) and (b) & 17(1)(i) of the Lagos State Infectious Disease (Emergency Prevention) Regulations 2020 and therefore committed an offence under Section 58 of the Public Health Law Cap P16 Vol. 9, Laws of Lagos State 2015.

The suspects were arrested by operatives of Lagos State Police Command following 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 Abdul Rasheed Bello.