Kiss-a-thon is a planned kissing marathon with the goal of breaking the Guinness World Record. It is scheduled to begin in the state of Ekiti on Friday, and the government of Ekiti State warned on Thursday that those who organized or participated in the event could face three years in prison for their actions.
Mr. Dayo Apata, the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, stated that the proprietors or owners of any facility used for the hosting of such an event in the state would be subject to the same punishment in addition to having the facility shut down.
Sugartee, a group that planned the three-day (72-hour) kissing event that was scheduled to take place in Ekiti between July 7 and July 10, said in leaflets that were distributed in the state that the three-day kissing marathon was “an attempt to break the GWR for the longest kissing marathon.”
Apata, who made his statement in a prohibition notice of the kiss-a-thon that he had also signed, said the following: “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 program is in violation of sections 148 and 150 of the Criminal Law (2021), which prohibit indecent acts and practices in the state. Additionally, anyone who violates the law is guilty of a felony and is subject to a maximum sentence of three years in prison.
“Any person or corporate body that allows themselves or facilities to be used in the execution of the proposed program in the state would be prosecuted before an appropriate court,” the statement read. “The proposed program is intended to be carried out in the state.”
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He stated that the state government considered the proposed program to be an indecent act, absurd, unhealthy, and capable of denigrating the image of Ekiti State, all of which are contrary to the law of Ekiti State. He also stated that the proposed program is against the law of Ekiti State.
“The state government has considered the proposed event to be 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.” “The state government has considered the proposed event to be an indecent act, absurd, and unhealthy and capable of denigrating the image of Ekiti State.”
“As a direct consequence of this, no person or corporate body is authorized to initiate and/or carry out the proposed kiss-a-thon in the state of Ekiti. “Any person and/or corporate body that allows himself or herself and/or facilities to be used in executing or propagating the proposed program in Ekiti State will be prosecuted before the appropriate court and dealt with according to the law,” Apata added. The proposed program is aimed at combating the spread of HIV/AIDS in the state.
