Error using Email Class

[eluser]brandobandido[/eluser]
Hi CI Masters,

I need your enlightenment here as I'm stumbled again to another CI issue that I can't seem to resolve since last night.

Ok here's the situation. I created a method that's under the Functions library that uses the email class functionality. Below's my code.

Code:

/**
     * Send email function
     *
     * @param array $data
     */

    function sendEmail($data = array())
    {
        $CI =& get_instance();
        $CI->email->from($data['email_from'], $data['email_from_name']);
        $CI->email->to($data['email_to']); // To user
        $CI->email->subject($data['email_subject']);
        $CI->email->message($data['email_message']);
        $CI->email->send();
        // Show the message for debugging
        echo $CI->email->print_debugger();
    }

And in my controller, I called it this way

Code:

$send_email_array = array(
                        'email_from' => '[email protected]',
                        'email_from_name' => 'Test site',
                        'email_to'  => '[email protected]',
                        'email_subject' => 'Subject',
                        'email_message' => 'Message here'
                    );
                    $this->functions->sendEmail($send_email_array);

The Functions library was already auto loaded but when I execute it I get this error

Code:

Fatal error: Call to a member function from() on a non-object in /path/site/system/applications/backend/libraries/Functions.php on line 160

I really don't understand why $CI =& get_instance() is not anymore an object.

Your help would be greatly appreciated as always!

Regards