Breaking: Lagos Socialite Erelu Okin Jailed 2 Years For Sharing Petrol As Souvenir

A Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Oshodi has sentenced socialite Chidinma Ogbulu to two years in prison for sharing petrol as souvenir during a party.

Chief Magistrate Kehinde Ogundare convicted and sentenced the socialite following her guilty plea on Thursday and evidence by prosecution.

Mr Ogundare held that prosecution proved its case against the socialite beyond any reasonable doubt, says a statement from Lagos State Ministry of Justice on Friday.

The socialite was first arraigned on March 14 for distributing petrol as souvenir during her installation party on March 5, at the Havillah Event Centre in Lagos state.

She pleaded not guilty then, but changed her plea to guilty on Thursday when the case came up for hearing.

Mr Ogundare sentenced the socialite to three months’ imprisonment or fine N15, 000 fine on count one of the three-count charge, and one year imprisonment or N500,000 fine on the second count.

The chief magistrate sentenced the socialite to one year imprisonment or N500,000 fine on the third count.

The socialite was said to have violated Section 251(1), 168 (1), 244 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2015, and Section 195 (2)(b) of the Environmental Management Protection Law of the state, 2017.

Police Arraign Socialite, Erelu Okin Who Distributed Kegs Of Petrol As Souvenir In Lagos

The Lagos police command has arraigned a socialite for distributing kegs of petrol as souvenir at her party which held at Havilah Events Centre in the Oniru part of the state on March 4.

The socialite, Ogbulu Chidinma Pearl, was on Monday arraigned on a four-count charge at the special offences court in Ikeja.

She’s accused of causing a breach of peace, endangering human life by distributing combustible matter in a public gathering, intent to do harm to another and unlawfully carrying on the business of storage and containerising petroleum product without permit.

The souvenir pictures which had gone viral on social media, attracted mixed reactions from Nigerians, especially at a time when the entire country faces acute fuel scarcity.

A statement by the police states that “Ogbulu was arraigned yesterday 14th March 2022 at the Special Offences (Mobile) Court of Lagos State in the Ikeja Magisterial District, Holden at Oshodi.

“The Commissioner of Police reiterates the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property and further warns citizens against acts capable of endangering human lives.”

The suspect was released on bail while the matter was adjourned to March 24 for further hearing.