Police Arrest Funke Akindele for Lockdown Violation

By Dipo Olowookere

A very popular actress in Nigeria, Funke Akindele-Bello, has been arrested by officials of the Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Police Force.

The actress was apprehended on Sunday for violating the directive of the federal government for a lockdown put in place in Lagos State to contain the spread of coronavirus disease.

Last Sunday, in a nationwide broadcast, President Muhammadu Buhari declared a lockdown of Lagos, Ogun and Abuja as part of efforts to tackle the virus.

Earlier, the Lagos State government had put a ban on gatherings of more than 25 people, with residents of the metropolis urged to observe social distancing of about two metres.

But on Saturday, Funke Akindele and her husband, Mr Abdul Rasheed Bello, hosted a birthday party at their residence at AMEN Estate around Ajah Lagos and few of their celebrity friends were present to honour the couple.

On Sunday morning, a video of the party emerged on the internet, showing an actress, Eniola Badmus, and a singer, Azeez Fashola, otherwise known as Naira Markey having fun with others, including the owner of the estate, Mr Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi, a former governorship aspirant in Lagos State..

This visual generated mixed reactions, with some calling for immediate arrest for violating government’s order, while others said she should be stripped of her ambassadorial role for Dettol and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

On Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Lagos State Command, Mr Bala Elkana, confirmed in a statement Funke Akindele has been arrested.

Mr Elkana said the actress was picked up by its officials from the State CID in Yaba and she is being interrogated over the viral video, which showed a large number of persons at her residence.

He also said her husband and other well-known persons seen in the video have been asked to report to the police on Monday or risk being declared wanted.

“Police detectives from the State CID Yaba were promptly drafted to the location. Funke Akindele was arrested. Investigation is ongoing.

“Efforts are intensified to arrest the remaining persons in the video, among whom are Azeez Fashola a.k.a Naira Marley and Abdul Rasheed Bello a.k.a. JJC Skillz.

“They are in their best interests urged to report at the State CID Yaba on Monday 6th April, 2020 or risk being declared wanted,” the police spokesman said in the statement.