Popular Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele-Bello has apologised to Nigerians over a party she hosted to celebrate her husband’s birthday in Lagos on Saturday.
Many Nigerians had taken to social media on Sunday to berate the actress and call for the couple’s arrest, saying they violating lockdown protocols and the Lagos State Government’s directive banning gatherings of more than 20 persons.
They said that the actress’s action was condemnable given that she is an ambassador of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Federal Government agency coordinating the nation’s response to coronavirus, and had in a video for the agency urged Nigerians to be safety-conscious as the nation battles the virus.
They also called on NCDC to cancel any contractual ambassadorial agreement with her.
But in a video she released due to the backlash, the CEO of Scene One Productions craved forgiveness from Nigerians over the matter.
Akindele-Bello said she would never intentionally mislead people, hence her decision to release the apology video.
She echoed her support for the government’s effort to stop coronavirus in its tracks.
“Truly yesterday was my husband’s birthday and both of us run Scene One studios which is located in Amen Estate, where we live.
“We have studios running into 12 in there; we built sets in there – roads, market. That is where we film Jenifa’s Diary (and) all our content – Ayetoro town and the rest.
“Before the coronavirus pandemic, we all work(ed) here. We’ve a strength of 100 workers, although not all 100 are here now.
“This is where everybody works and we shoot a lot of content.
“When the pandemic started, we had to stop all production, including Omo Ghetto the Saga, which is our new project that was supposed to start April.
“But before the lockdown was announced by our president, some youths had been in bootcamps here in Amen Estate, rehearsing, singing, dancing.
“Majority of the youths are those you saw in the video.
“Some of the staff, although not all of them, live outside Lagos and so when the lockdown was announced, they couldn’t go back (home).
“Borders are closed and they had to stay back.
“Naira Marley is part of the Omo Ghetto the Saga project. That’s supposed to be a surprise but I have to spill it now so you all can understand me.
“Please note that I’m not defending myself; I understand your concerns.
“Naira Marley came in here before the lockdown and when the lockdown was announced by our president, he said he’d like to stay back because he loved the environment.
“He said let’s keep working on the soundtrack; let’s keep working on everything.
“Then my husband’s birthday came in,” Akindele-Bello explained.
Watch video:
Funke Akindele addresses fans over the party. pic.twitter.com/L19tzTqpvc
— Ibrahim Salawu 🇲🇬 (@UnilagOlodo) April 5, 2020