Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele Bello and her husband, Abdulrasheed Bello were yesterday arraigned before the Chief Magistrate Court 1 Ogba, Lagos on one count charge.
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 led by the Honourable Attorney General of Lagos State, 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 them to 14 days community service, three hours per day, excluding Saturday and Sunday.
The court also ordered that the defendants are to pay a fine of N100, 000 each and that each defendant shall visit 10 important public places within Lagos State to educate the public on the consequences of non-compliance with the restriction order and that they must submit the names and phone numbers of every person who attended the party.
The Court ruled that they shall be placed on isolation by the State Government to determine their COVID-19 status adding that failure to abide by the above directives shall attract more severe punishments.
Recall that 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 from 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.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Lagos State Police command, DSP Bala Elkana has confirmed that Azeez Fashola also known as Naira Marley who was at the party and could not be immediately arrested alongside with the couple was now in Police custody.
Elkana in a statement in Lagos on Monday said he would also be charged to Court for violating the restriction orders adding that the command had launched a manhunt for the remaining persons who attended the party.
“The Commissioner of Police Lagos State Command, CP Hakeem Odumosu psc expressed his profound gratitude to Lagosians and other well-meaning Nigerians that speak up against the violations. Together we can stop the spread of COVID-19’, he added.
Photo: Funke Akindele and husband in court on Monday.
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