LAGOS GOVERNMENT PARDONS FUNKE AKINDELE, HUSBAND OVER BREACH OF COVD-19 PROTOCOL
Lagos State Government has granted pardon to Nollywood actress Funke Akindele-Bello and her husband, Abdulrasheed Bello, who were both convicted for the breach of COVID-19 protocol.
The State Government also approved the release of 56 inmates from various correctional Centres across the State.
In a statement released on Friday, October 9, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu granted the couple pardon because they were non-custodial convicts.
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Onigbanjo said Sanwo-Olu acted based on the recommendations of the State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, under the powers conferred on the Governor by Section 212 (1) & (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
He explained that the 56 freed inmates were recommended by the Advisory Council after due examination of their case files and consideration of the length of time served, the gravity of the offence, age and health status among other parameters.
Recall that Funke Akindele and her husband were convicted and sentenced to a 14-day community service in April after they hosted a birthday party at their residence contrary to the social distancing directive by the Government to curb the spread of COVID-19.
They were also fined 100,000 each after videos of a birthday party surfaced online showing little to no social distancing.
The chief magistrates’ court sitting in Ogba, Lagos State sentenced the couple after they pleaded guilty to a one-count charge preferred against them by the State Government.
The birthday hosted by the couple had about 20 persons in attendance, including, singer Azeez Adeshina Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley and actress Eniola Badmus
The Attorney General enjoined the beneficiaries to be good citizens and stay away from crime.
The eight-member Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, headed by Dr Abayomi Finnih was inaugurated by Governor Sanwo-Olu in December 2019.
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