The Lagos State Police command has indicated that no specific date has been scheduled for the arraignment of singer Naira Marley and former Lagos State governorship aspirant, Babatunde Gbadamosi, along with his wife.
Naira Marley and the Gbadamosis voluntarily presented themselves at the State Criminal Investigation Department SCID on Monday, following an invitation in connection to their alleged violation of the Infectious Disease Regulation of Lagos state. This violation occurred when they attended a birthday party organized by actress Funke Akindele and her husband, JJCSkillz over the weekend.
Funke and her husband were brought before the Ogba Magistrate court on Monday April 6th for disregarding the social distancing order of the state government. They were sentenced to 14 days of community service, fined N200, 000, and directed to immediately undergo 14 days of isolation to ascertain if they had contracted the novel Coronavirus.
Spokesperson of the police command, Bala Elkana, confirmed the delay in the arraignment of Naira Marley and the Gbadamosis, citing the non-operation of the courts in the state due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I don’t know who proposed today. They will be arraigned, but no court is sitting today. Courts don’t sit today. They have days they sit now because of this Coronavirus. They sat yesterday (Monday), the next sitting will be tomorrow (Wednesday).” he told The Nation
Anonymously speaking to The Nation, a high-ranking official of the Ministry of Justice disclosed that some Magistrate Courts in the state only operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, between 10 am and 1 pm, following a directive from the Chief Judge, Justice Kazeem Alogba on March 30, in response to the COVID-19-induced lockdown. The source hinted that the proposed arraignment of Naira Marley and the Gbadamosis is anticipated to occur on Wednesday April 8.