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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Dettol Nigeria have said comic actor, Funke Akindele was at no time an ambassador to the NCDC, stressing that her birthday celebration is against the caution to the public on social distancing during the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports both the NCDC and Dettol took their official Twitter handle to make this known after police in Lagos State arrested the Nollywood actor for hosting the birthday party to honour of her husband despite subsisting order resisting parties.
Recall that Funke Akindele was recently filmed in a Coronavirus public service message, in which the actor shared tips on how to keep safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. She advised Nigerians on simple steps to protect loved ones from the disease. She advised regular hand washing and use of hand sanitizer, and also advised on social distancing.
https://twitter.com/DettolNigeria/status/1239601725306212352
However, on Saturday, the movie star pulled a crowd together to celebrated her husband’s birthday as he became a year older. This is not go down well with Dettol nor the NCDC.
“We have been made aware through social media that Funke Akindele recently, acting in her personal capacity, had a celebration which is against the caution to the public on social distancing during the covid-19 pandemic.
“The NCDC partnered with Dettol on a public service message to educate our communities about preventive measures against COVID-19. Funke is not a brand ambassador of the NCDC.
“As a responsible organization and brand, Dettol does not condone any breach of the guidelines on Covid-19. As an organization we are concerned at the turn of events. We will continue to support NCDC and the Nigerian govt to fight COVID-19,” a statement by Dettol reads.
Following the Dettol statement released on Twitter, NCDC quickly reacted saying, “As an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, NCDC has not engaged brand ambassadors as part of our response to COVID-19. We continue to emphasise that all Nigerians maintain social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Meanwhile, The Lagos State Police Command has arrested Funke Akindele for hosting the birthday party in honour of her husband despite a subsisting order resisting such.
The arrest was confirmed by the Lagos State Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana in a statement. According to him, the actress had been taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba.
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’.
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 Niara fine (N100,000.00) or one (1) month imprisonment or three (3) months Community service.”