Lagos Government Withdraws Charges Against Naira Marley And Gbadamosi, Asks Them To Apologize

The Lagos State Government has withdrawn charges against a musician, Naira Marley, and a politician, Babatunde Gbadamosi.

Marley, Gbadamosi and his wife were charged before the Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Ogba for attending a crowded birthday party in violation of the government’s social distancing directive to check the spread of coronavirus.

The birthday party was organised by Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele, for her husband, JJC Skillz, who turned 43 last week Saturday.

KanyiDaily had reported that the couple were arraigned on Monday and sentenced to one week of community service and asked to pay a fine of N100,000 each.

Marley, Gbadamosi and his wife who attended the party, were scheduled for arraignment on Wednesday.

However, the defence counsel the Lagos State Government, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), withdrew the four counts filed against the three defendants.

He said the state withdrew the charges on the condition that the defendants would tender an apology to President Muhammadu Buhari and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The conditions for which their charge was dropped include:

1) They have to write a formal apology to the Government of Lagos State which will solidify the remorsefulness shown by them.

(2) They have to give an undertaking in writing that they will continue to comply with the directives of Mr President and Mr Governor which is the subject matter of the case before the court.

(3) In view of the danger which the state believes they’ve put themselves by attending a gathering exceeding 20 persons, they must agree to go on 14 days isolation to protect other members of the public from any likely danger.

The defendants through their counsel all agreed to the conditions and the court has adjourned till tomorrow for the prosecutor to brief the court on whether all the conditions have been met failing which they will be arraigned.