Celebrities Call Out Sanwo-Olu To Arrest Journalists And Security Operatives In Court During Funke Akindele’s Trial

The Lagos State government and the Nigeria police have come under attack over the arraignment of Funke Akindele and her husband, JJC Skillz in court on Monday.

The actress was arrested on Sunday for flouting the Lagos State social distancing order implemented to curtail the spread of COVID-19.

She and her husband, JJC Skillz, hosted a party that had over 20 people at their home in Amen Estate, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State.

The Chief Magistrate, Yewande Aje-Afunwa, fined them N100,000 and sentenced them to serve 14-day community service, among other sanctions.

However, the couple on arrival at the court, were swarmed with journalists and security operatives violating social distancing order.

Some Nigerian celebrities took to their social media pages calling the attention of governor of Lagos state, Jide Sanwo-olu to what they described as an irony of execution of social distancing order. According to them, those spotted in the video should also be prosecuted for violating the social distancing policy and ban on public gathering of more than 20 people.

Nollywood Actress Opeyemi Aiyeola on her Instagram page wrote, “Ok the Bello’s were persecuted for breaking the law. Correct they should be persecuted but ejor making a show at this extremely delicate and sensitive time of a pandemic is what I don’t understand.

“Are these people not more than 20? Where’s the practice of social distancing? Whose breaking the law now? Shouldn’t everyone in the video or the gatherer of the gathering be persecuted as well? Everyone in this video should be rounded up and put in isolation. Government risking people’s lives, just to show they are working. Which way Nigeria? Naija and show off mentality. The guilty judging the guilty! Sanwo-Olu please Sir look into this!”

Also, Actress Beverly Naya wrote, “Imagine being prosecuted for breaking a law only to be surrounded by a swarm of people breaking the exact same law. Weird times! Break the law to enforce it? Smh!”

Actress Iyabo Ojo, calling the attention of the Lagos government to the situation at the court on Monday asked that those present be quarantined.

“What happened was wrong no doubt, however, we’re all humans and no one is perfect, So on her behalf and hubby I apologise once again. It’s going to be ok dear, stay strong Funke Akindele this shall pass. Moreover, I will like to bring to your notice sir, that everyone most especially the media personnel who went to court today on this issue should all be quarantined because there was no social distancing on display. Thank you Sanwo-Olu.”