Nollywood and NFVCB has appealed to the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to grant state pardon to Funke Akindele.
The Executive Director of NFVCB, Alhaji Adebayo Thomas revealed this on Friday in Abuja.
It can be recalled that a Chief Magistrate Court in Lagos had on April convicted Funke Akindele and her husband, AbdulRasheed Bello, popularly known as JJC Skillz, for flaunting the Lagos State Infectious Disease (Emergency Prevention) Regulation 2020.
The couple were arrested and arraigned for hosting a birthday party at their residence at Amen Estate in Lagos in contravention of government’s lockdown order on social distancing amidst the raging COVID-19 pandemic.
They pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 14 days of community service, in addition to a fine of N100,000 each and an order that the state should keep them in isolation for 14 days.
The development, however, generated sympathy from within and outside the Nigerian entertainment industry for the thespian, popularly known as ‘Jenifa’ by fans.
Fans of the actress, industry watchers, guilds, and even human rights activists, have continued to appeal to relevant authorities to officially pardon the artiste.
According to Thomas, the NFVCB board and other stakeholders in the industry want the state government to grant state pardon to Funke Akindele on compassionate grounds and by extension, her husband.
