Petrol souvenir: Nigerian socialite Erelu Okin jailed two years

A Lagos State Special Offences (Mobile) Court sitting at Oshodi has sentenced a socialite, Ms Chidinma Ogbulu, popularly known as Erelu Okin to two years in prison for distributing petrol as a souvenir during a party.

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

The development is coming 10 days after she was granted bail by the court in the sum of N2m and two responsible sureties in like sum.

Recall VAM News reported how Ogbulu organised a flamboyant party at Havillah Centre in Lekki to celebrate her installation as Erelu Okin of Orile Kemta by His Royal Highness, Oba Tokunbo Okikiola Gbadegeshin Tejuosho.

Exclusive footage and photographs from the glamourous event went viral on social media but it was her choice of souvenir amidst the ongoing nationwide fuel scarcity that attracted much criticism.

Consequently, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu called on the appropriate authorities to look into the viral video and mete out appropriate sanction.

Ogundare held that prosecution proved its case against the socialite beyond any reasonable doubt, according to 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 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.

Ogundare sentenced the socialite to three months’ imprisonment or fine N15,000 fine on count one of the three charges, 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.

According to Lagos State Government, the socialite violated Section 251(1), 168 (1), 244 of the Criminal Law of the state, 2015, and Section 195 (2)(b) of the Environmental Management Protection Law of the state, 2017.

(NAN)

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