The challenge presently being faced by seasoned Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele, has been described as ”neccessary” by Mr. Olukayode Salako, the husband of a fellow movie star, Foluke Daramola.
Salako, in a statement Tuesday morning analysing what appears to be the fundamental essence of the ‘Jenifa’ character’s trial, notes that the government only made Funke a scapegoat not because they detest her guts ”but to use her popularity to further spread the rules of the containments and sound a note of strong warning to potential violators.”
”Her situation is just to put it in the consciousness of Nigerians that the law is there for all to obey,” Salako stressed, adding that with what the government has done in her case as a celebrity, it is now very clear to potential violators that anyone, irrespective of status, could be dealt with.
Also, complementing Salako’s stand, Mr. Bolaji Amusan, the national president of Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), said Funke Akindele’s arrest and prosecution ”was a lesson to everyone.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Latin has reacted after the news story went viral in the social media, saying he was misquoted.
His rejoinder;
”Very wrong of the press to quote what I did not said (sic). I said Funke was hard working, dedicated and an a law abiding citizen, it was unfortunate that it happened.
I had called the attention of the correspondent but refused to pick! Bad press.”
Funke, an Ambassador of Dettol Nigeria which is partnering the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in the social distancing campaign, and her husband, JJC Skillz, were taken
into Police custody on Sunday for breaching the Lagos State social distancing order implemented to curtail the spread of COVID-19 by hosting an indoor party that had over 20 people at their home in Amen Estate, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.
They were later arraigned before a Lagos State Magistrate Court on Monday, pleaded guilty and were ordered to serve 14-day community service with a fine of N100,000 each.
Articulating his points, Salako said that as one of the crusaders (of hand-washing and social distancing), the mother of twins should not be found violating the laws she was engaged to preach based on her connection and prominence in the society.
”Now, we all know that the law can catch up with anybody, including (big) people like Funke, who should know better, and her trial has made it very popular in the consciousness of us all that the laws of the containment measures are meant to be taken seriously and obeyed by all,” Salako remarked.
Amusan a.k.a. Mr. Latin, while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN soon after the arraignment of Funke and her husband, declared that; ”this should serve as a lesson to all. This is a play out of the rule of law, nobody is above the law and I hope Nigerians will learn from the entire scenario.” Amusan lamented that though it was unfortunate the actress had to face the music for violating government directives.
-Folorunsho Hamsat
