Funke Akindele-Bello and her husband, AbdulRasheed Bello, are to pay a fine of N100,000 each for violation of the restriction order.

The couple were also sentenced to 14 days community service for non compliance with the Lagos State restriction order.

Police Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Command, DSP Bala Elkana, on Monday, said the community service would be held three hours per day, excluding Saturday and Sunday.

He said each defender shall visit 10 important public places within Lagos State to educate the public on the consequences of non-compliance with the restriction order.

The Police spokesman said the couple were arraigned in a Chief Magistrate Court in Ogba on one count charge.

“They were brought to court by detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of investigation, DCP Yetunde Longe.

“The prosecuting team was led by the Attorney General of Lagos State, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN. The charge was read to the defendants by the court and they pleaded guilty.

“The court found them guilty as charged and sentenced as follows and ordered them to submit the names and phone numbers of every person who attended the party,” he said.

Elkana said all those who attended the party shall be placed on isolation by the State Government to determine their COVID-19 status.

Failure to abide by the above directives shall attract more severe punishments.

“The two accused persons held a party on Saturday at their residents with over twenty persons in attendance contrary to the social distancing directives made in pursuant of the Lagos State Infectious Disease Regulations 2020.

“They therefore committed an offence under Section 58 of the Public Health Law Cap P16 Vol. 9, Laws of Lagos State 2015.

“The suspects were arrested following a viral video showing a large number of persons mainly in the entertainment industry in an Estate, along Ajah, Ibeju-Lekki axis, Lagos celebrating a birthday party organised by the Bello’s,” he said.

Elkana said Azeez Fashola a.k.a “Naira Marley” is now in police custody and would also be charged to court for violating the restriction orders.

He said the command had also launched a manhunt for the remaining persons who attended the party.

“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Hakeem Odumosu expressed his profound gratitude to Lagosians and other well meaning Nigerians that spoke up against the violations.

“Together we can stop the spread of COVID-19,” Elkana said.

Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) on Monday advised its members to observe all the directives of the Federal and state governments in the fight against the spread of Coronavirus in Lagos State and the nation.

Its President, Obi Casmir, gave the advice while reacting to Funke Akindele-Bello’s violation of the restriction orders by the Lagos State Government by organising a birthday party for her husband.

He said Nigerians in general and entertainers in particular should always obey government’s law and order.

Casmir said on Monday in Lagos that it was not right for Funke Akindele-Bello and others to have defied government’s order adding that nobody is above the law irrespective of status and personality.

“Its not right that after our government has given the order that people should stay at home, maintain social distancing, anyone,no matter your status,should go against it.

“It is funny that people are still taking this Coronavirus epidemic with laxity despite the level of awareness and government’s preventive measures to stop its spread, some still shun the order.

“To me, it was a total wrong step taken by Funke Akindele-Bello, she should have held a quiet-family-parlour party to mark her husband’s birthday, rather than go against the law,” he said.

He also said that he was disappointed with the large number of persons in the entertainment industry present at where the birthday party was held.

According to him, the guests also committed same offence as the hosts they were equally expected to comply with the government’s directive of ‘Stay at Home’ and avoid social gathering, being part of the measures against the spread of Coronavirus.

The PMAN president, popularly known as Voombastic Uncle P, appealed to the members of the entertainment industry and Nigetians in general to always be law abiding citizens.

However, Emeka Rollas, President of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), declined to comment on the development.

He said that he was observing all the measures and directives spelt out by the government and health officials against COVID-19.

Rollas said, “As a law abiding citizen, I am obeying the order of the Federal and the state governments, so no comment from me because I am on total lockdown.”

Funke Akindele-Bello and her husband;AbdulRasheed Bello, popularly known as JJC Skillz were on April 6 arraigned before a Lagos State Magistrate Court for flouting the Lagos State Government’s stay-at-home order.

They ,however, pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against them.

Akindele-Bello of Nigeria’s popular Soap Opera ‘Jennifer Dairy’ was arrested by men of the Lagos State Command of the Nigerian Police Force on April 5 for organising a house party despite the lockdown order by the government.