Ekiti State Government said on Thursday that perpetrators and propagators of kiss-a-thon, a planned kissing marathon targeted at setting a Guinness World Record, billed to start in the state on Friday risked three years imprisonment.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Dayo Apata, said the same fate awaited proprietors or owners of any facility used for the hosting of such an event in the state apart from closing it down.
A group, Sugartee, in leaflets circulated in the state, had planned the three-day (72-hour) kissing event billed to be held in Ekiti between July 7 and July 10, saying the three-day kissing marathon was “an attempt to break the GWR for the longest kissing marathon.”
Apata, who spoke in a prohibition notice of the kiss-a-thon, which he signed, said, “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
“The planned kiss-a-thon programme is contrary to sections 148 and 150 of the Criminal Law (2021) which prohibits indecent acts and practices in the state, and anyone who violates the law is guilty of felony and is 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.
