Comedians arrested for shooting skit in strange outfits at Kwara Govt House

…to be arraigned soon

Two comedians were on Wednesday arrested by the Police in Kwara State at the entrance of the State Government House, along Ahmadu Bello way in Ilorin, the state capital city, for shooting comic skits dressing in spiritualist outfits.

One of the comedians identified by this medium to be Abdullahi Paranti with stage name ‘Comrade Funny’ was dressed in native white robe with red beads on his neck and was reported to be shouting “cut soap for me”.

Security details attached to the Government House who were surprised by this unusual sight quickly swung to action by arresting Paranti and his accomplice. They were eventually transferred to the Police Headquarters in the state for interrogation where they are currently being held as at time of filling this report.

THE INFORMANT247 gathered that the comedians will be charged to court tomorrow (Thursday).

It’s further learnt that despite convincing evidences that the duo were comedians shooting entertainment skits, the state government insisted on dragging them to court.

“They are only comedians trying to make a living. It’s not that they actually went to the Government House for the short movie, they were only passing by when they were arrested. We explained that they are comedians and even showed them our previous skits but they wouldn’t listen,” Olushola A., a member of Paranti’s entertainment group told this reporter.

A government official who declined to be identified when contacted said the governor is interested in the case as opposition groups are already spreading propaganda about the incident.

“I think they will explain themselves in court. Even though we have confirmed that they are comedians, that won’t stop us from going to court. Social media is already awash with false narrations. We need to clear the air on this matter and I am afraid they will have to do that in court. The governor has serious interest in the case. What they did is very wrong and sensitive, you can imagine the opposition parties are now trying to score cheap political point with it,” the source said.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ajayi Oksanmi confirmed the arrest of the suspects.

Also, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye corroborated the Police’s spokesperson’s response, adding that the comedians will be charged to court soon.

Student bodies weigh in

Describing Paranti as a former Vice-President of the body, the National President of the National Association of Kwara State Student, Comrade Muftau Mubarak Atulunshe appealed to the state government not to charge the comedians to court.

“The executive and the entire members of the National Association of Kwara (NAKSS), National Headquarters, beseech the merciful eyes of the State Government for the release of our past executive; a former Vice-President, Comrade Abdullahi Ibrahim Paranti. Earlier today, it was reported that the comrade, who has ventured into acting, was shooting a script along Ahmadu Beloo way.

“We are not unaware of the political gimmick the act has generated over the social media, we however want to clear the cloud by stating that he is an actor who is not unpopular among the people as against the unfounded delusion that he is a herbalist,” Atunlushe said in a statement sent to this medium.

Executives of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) both zonal and state axis were also sighted at the police headquarters in show of solidarity and to plead on behalf of the arrested comedians.

Kwara govt begged

“We have pleaded and we are still pleading, we never intend to tarnish the image of the governor. If you check our page, we have done several scripts for the First Lady. We are not working for the opposition or anybody for that matter. We are deeply sorry about these inconveniencies.

“We didn’t bother to notify the authority because our script only contain passing by the Government House, but still, we are deeply sorry about this,”  Olushola said.

False narration on social media

Olushola meanwhile debunked online reports that Paranti was demanding to see the governor over unpaid 2019 consultation fees, describing the online report as “fake and malicious”.

“We are so sad to see the incident being misconstrued in the media, we are only comedians. I even saw a report that he (Paranti) was asking for consultation fee from the governor, that is entirely wrong. I can show you a copy of the script, nothing of such is in there,” he said.