Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, on Friday granted state pardon to popular actress, Funke Akindele, alias Jenifa, and her husband, Abdulrasheed Bello, aka JJC Skillz, convicted and sentenced to community service for breaking COVID-19 lockdown rules.
Funke had in April, in the thick of the COVID-19 outbreak, organised a crowded house party to celebrate her husband’s birrhday.
A statement by the Director of Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Kayode Oyekanmi, on Friday said Sanwo-Olu granted state pardon to the couple on the advice of the state’s Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.
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The statement quoted the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), as stating that the governor acted pursuant to Section 212 (1) & (2) of the 1999 Constitution.
It disclosed that the governor also, on the same advice, granted amnesty to 56 inmates from various correctional centres in the state and ordered their release.
The statement, titled, ‘Sanwo-Olu releases 56 inmates, pardons Funke Akindele, husband,’ read in part, “The 56 released 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 offence, old age and ill-health, among other parameters.
“The attorney general has also 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.