A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has thrown out a lawsuit seeking to challenge the COVID-19 conviction of Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele, her husband JJC Skillz, and others.
It would be recalled that the celebrity couple were prosecuted on April 6, 2020, for violating the lockdown and social distancing order in Lagos after throwing a crowded house party in their Lagos home.
Well, a Lagos-based lawyer, identified as Olukoya Ogungbeje, filed a lawsuit to challenge the constitutionality of the Lagos State Infectious Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulations 2020 pursuant, under which Funke Akindele and her husband were prosecuted.
According to him, the lawsuit is incompetent and has no reasonable cause of action. He also ordered the Lagos state government to tender a public apology in three popular newspapers to every Nigerian arrested and convicted under that law.
However, Justice Akintayo Aluko who presided over the case, countered it stating that Section 8 of the Quarantine Act 2004 allows the Lagos state government make regulations without the Federal Government’s approval.
They also noted that the regulation was made for public safety, public good and protection which is larger and far greater than that of an individual such as the applicant.
Justice Aluko who delivered the judgement said,
“In total, I hold that this suit has disclosed no reasonable cause of action against the Respondents.
“The instant suit is incompetent and the court lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate over same.
“Accordingly, this suit is hereby struck out for those reasons.”