BY LEVI JOHNSON
Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Dettol have sacked Nollywood actress Funke Akindele popularly known as Jenifa as their brands’ ambassador.
Their withdrawer for endorsement followed Akindele arrested on Sunday for hosting a house party that contravened the lockdown order of the government over coronavirus.
Recall that Akindele had severally appeared in adverts for the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Dettol, calling on Nigerians to observe social distancing and hygiene.
To Dettol and NCDC, Akindel’s action for organising the party contravened what she preached on social distancing.
She was arrested at her residence in Amen Estate off the Lekki-Epe Expressway and in custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba.
The NCDC tweets: “As an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, NCDC has not engaged brand ambassadors as part of our response to COVID-19.
“We continue to emphasise that all Nigerians maintain social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Dettol Nigeria also said:“We have been made aware through social media that Funke Akindele recently, acting in her personal capacity, had a celebration which is against the caution to the public on social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The NCDC partnered with Dettol on a public service message to educate our communities about preventive measures against COVID-19. Funke is not a brand ambassador of the NCDC.”
In her reaction, Funke Akindele, said her husband, Abdulrasheed Bello aka JJC Skillz; and singer Azeez Fashola aka Naira Marley were in her house before the lockdown order from the Federal Government.
Her words, “I have seen all the messages on Social Media. I will not intentionally mislead people.
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“It was my husband’s birthday. Both of us run a studio which is located in Amen Estate where we live.
“When the pandemic started, we stopped all productions including our new projects.
“But before the lockdown was announced by our President, some youths have been in the boot camp here in Amen Estate – majority of the youths were those you saw in the video.
“Naira Marley came in here before the lockdown. And when the lockdown was announced, he said he would love to stay back, saying he loves this environment.
“I said okay fine. Then my husband’s birthday came up. And we all came together as a family.
“Everybody in that video had been in Amen Estate some months before, weeks before and days before the lockdown. Nobody came from their houses to party with us.
“I am sorry if I have misled you. I appreciate your concerns and I promise to always practice what I preach.
“I promise to always support the government in creating more awareness to eradicate this pandemic.”
