A Nigerian lawyer has detailed why Funke Akindele and JJC Skillz’s conviction for violating a lockdown order issued by the Lagos state government may not be legally valid.
Lib reported that the couple received a fine of N100,000 each and a 14-day community service sentence, three hours per day excluding Saturday and Sunday.
Constitutional Lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, reacting to the development, pointed out the flaws in the law which aided the conviction.
Conviction of Funke Akindele: Legal Flaws
Mr. Effiong argued that the trial and conviction were legally flawed, emphasizing that issues of jurisdiction can be raised at any time.
He cited the charge sheet, the Public Health Law Cap, and the Lagos State Infectious Disease Regulations 2020, highlighting that the defendants were convicted for a non-existent offence.
He contended that the directive on gathering cannot be the basis for criminal liability and detailed the various legal defects in the case.
He maintained his stance, stating that there is no law in the constitution that can dictate what citizens should or should not do in the privacy of their homes.
Constitutional Rights and COVID-19
In a further post, he emphasized that no government in Nigeria can dictate citizens’ actions in the privacy of their homes, and that COVID-19 cannot infringe upon this right.
He raised questions about the legality of the gathering at the couple’s home and criticized the punishment imposed, asserting that the judgment may not stand in law.