SAHARANEWS – Popular Nigerian actress, Funke Akindele, has been arrested by the Nigerian Police for hosting a birthday party despite the Coronavirus lockdown in the country.
SaharaNews gathered that Funke Akindele was arrested on Sunday by the Lagos State Police Command following calls by Nigerians on Social Media to get the actress arrested after news and video of the Nollywood super star hosting a birthday party for her husband in her house at Amene estate Lekki went viral on social media.
SaharaNews learnt from information given by the Lagos State Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, that the actress was arrested and taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba.
He confirmed to News reporters that: “Yes, we have (arrested) Funke Akindele and we are looking for the others. She has been taken to SCID.”
We also learnt that policemen arrived in Amene Estate off Lekk-Epe Expressway in about three patrol vehicles.
Akindele, popularly known as Jenifa, who is married to singer, Abdulrasheed Bello aka JJC Skillz, held a party in his honour on Saturday.
Singer, Azeez Fashola aka Naira Marley, also graced the party, which had over 20 others in attendance.
Thousands of Nigerians on social media called for the arrest Akindele, popularly called ‘Jenifa’.
The actress, who is said to be an ambassador for the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Dettol, has appeared in adverts calling on Nigerians to observe social distancing and hygiene.
She later apologised over the incident, saying most of those who attended the party were colleagues, who were living temporarily within the estate and could not return to their home states because of the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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 stay at home order, security Agencies shall have 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.”