Police in Lagos, on Thursday, arraigned musician, Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley, before the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Oshodi, for violating COVID-19 regulations.
Naira Marley was earlier detained by the police in Lagos for flouting movement restrictions following a concert he staged in Abuja in June.
Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, said Naira Marley was charged for violating the COVID-19 order banning interstate travels, which was — at that time — put in place to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
“He is arraigned alongside his Manager, Seyi Awouga ‘f’ on one count charge of breach of cessation of movement and interstates travel order made by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under Regulation 4 (i) of the Lagos State Infectious Disease Emergency Prevention) Regulation No 2 of 2020 and committed an offence punishable under Section 58 Public Health Law, Ch. P16, Laws of Lagos State 2015,” he said.
The two accused persons, Naira Marley and his manager, pleaded guilty to the charge and were awarded a fine of one hundred thousand naira each by the presiding magistrate.
In April, Marley was detained alongside Funke Akindele, a Nollywood actress, after the latter hosted a house party that the former attended, despite Lagos’ lockdown measures at the time.
The charges against him were, however, withdrawn following his apology to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, promising to abide by all government measures thereafter.
Marley had said, “I hereby apologise to the governor and the good people of Lagos in any manner that I violated the social distancing regulations and stay at home order of the president.
“I undertake to observe, obey, and fully comply with all regulations and directive of the president and governor on the social distancing that seek to curb the spread of coronavirus in Nigeria.”
Marley had left Lagos to perform at a concert in the Federal Capital Territory on Saturday, July 13.
But the concert, which held at the Jabi Lake Mall, drew public outrage and condemnation
FCT administration then shut down the mall and stopped the operation of the airline, whose plane he chartered.
Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, was said to have ordered Naira Marley’s arrest.