Funke Akindele: Nigerians slam Lagos State for breaking social distancing order in court
Pascal Oparada
The news that Nollywood Actress, Funke Akindele and her husband, Abdulrasheed Bello were arraigned in the court for violating the Lagos State Social Distancing directive and Quarantine laws did not come as a shock to many.
She was arrested on Sunday by the Lagos State Police Command for violating the social distancing order of the state.
The actress had hosted a birthday party in honour of her husband, Abdulrasheed Bello, known as JJC Skillz last Sunday.
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What came as a surprise to many is that while docking the actress and her husband, Bello, the state government also contravened its own laws by allowing a crowded courtroom.
Video footage shows Funke and husband, Bello, in the dock as hordes of cameramen, journalists and lawyers swarmed the actress and her singer husband.
Social media users are calling for the prosecution of the court clerk who allowed what they termed a mess in the court on Monday.
Others said the government cannot commit the same crime they are punishing others for.
“You’re arresting someone for defiling the law on social distancing…
Yet the law is also defiling the law… mad people, ” Yomi said on Twitter.
“You dragged Funke akindele, now you have just one job,drag the court and government officials for this mess. If you fail,you are a bastard. They were wrong, but this is worse, because I’m sure they knew how much crowd this kind of court proceedings will attract, ” Olamide also said on Twitter.
Many commended the state government for the speed in which they arraigned the couple.
If found guilty the couple faces a minimum of one month in jail with a fine and a maximum of three months or a fine of N100,000 or both.
Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Quarantine Act (CAP Q2 LFN 2004) conferred such powers on President Buhari to prosecute anyone flouting the Act.
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.
It reads in part, “Where there is a violation of a close-down or stays at home order, security agencies shall have the power to arrest without warrant and may detain any person who violates the closedown or stay at home order for at least forty-eight (48) hours.
“Where the arrested person is found guilty, the person is liable to a fine of one Hundred Thousand Nara fine (N100,000.00) or one (1) month imprisonment or three (3) months Community service.”
