The Ekiti State Government released a warning on Thursday about a purported “kiss-a-thon”. Anyone planning to carry out a “kiss-a-thon”, aimed at breaking the Guinness World Record, could face three years in prison.
Dayo Apata, the state’s attorney general and commissioner for justice, warned that the state would shut down any venue used to conduct such an event. Furthermore, its owners or managers would face the same fate.
An organisation called Sugartee organised the three-day (72-hour) kissing event. They scheduled it to take place in Ekiti between July 7 and July 10.
According to pamphlets distributed around the state, the three-day kissing marathon was-
“an attempt to break the GWR for the longest kissing marathon.”
Apata, who signed the restriction notice for the kiss-a-thon, stated as follows:
“Pursuant to the provisions of the law and any other relevant laws applicable in Ekiti State, the proposed programme tagged kiss-a-thon is hereby prohibited throughout the length and breadth of Ekiti State.
“The planned kiss-a-thon programme is contrary to sections 148 and 150 of the Criminal Law (2021). It prohibits indecent acts and practices in the state. Anyone who violates the law is guilty of a felony and is also liable to imprisonment for three years.
“Any person or corporate body that allows himself/herself and facilities to be used in executing the proposed programme in the state would be prosecuted before an appropriate court.”
He said the state government considered the proposed programme as an indecent act, absurd, unhealthy and capable of denigrating the image of Ekiti State and same is contrary to the law of Ekiti State.
“The state government has considered the proposed event as an indecent act, absurd, unhealthy and capable of denigrating the image of Ekiti State and same is contrary to the law of Ekiti State, particularly sections 148 and 150 Criminal Law no 21 of 2021 which prohibits indecent acts and practices in Ekiti State.”
“Consequently, no individual or corporate body is allowed to embark upon and/or execute the proposed kiss-a-thon in Ekiti State. Any person and/or corporate body that allows himself or herself and /or facilities to be used in executing/ propagating the proposed programme in Ekiti State will be prosecuted before the appropriate court and dealt with according to the law,” Apata added.
cc: Punch Ng
