Lagos Arraigns 202 Persons For Violating Social Distancing Law

The Lagos State government on Thursday arraigned 202 fitness enthusiasts before two Mobile Courts sitting at the State Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Panti, Yaba for
violating the lockdown order.

The defendants were arrested by the Lagos State Taskforce charged with enforcing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu directives made to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Lagos.

They were apprehended on Thursday morning at different locations in Lagos including Yaba, Agege, Ogudu/Ojota and Iju areas, while they were either jogging, cycling or loitering.

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The defendants were docked before two Magistrates; Mrs Makanju Oshodi and Mr Nurudeen Layeni of the Lagos Mobile Courts on a one count charge.

Specifically they committed an offence contrary to Regulation 1(1) of the COVID-19 Regulations which is punishable under Section 5 of the Public Health Laws of Lagos State 2015.

The defendants, who mostly plead guilty to the charge and were ordered to pay fines ranging from N5,000 to N10,000 to the Lagos State Government were also ordered to immediately commence a two-hour community service.

Speaking after the proceedings, the Coordinator Mobile Courts, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mrs Arinola Ogbara-Banjoko said that over 260 persons had been tried at the Mobile Courts for various violations since the lockdown began in Lagos.

She said, “All juvenile offenders and persons with special needs that were apprehended were not arraigned at the Mobile Courts, they are over 50 are not a part of the over 260 persons tried at the mobile courts.

“Deaf and dumb persons were separated because we do not have an interpreter. Fines of N10,000 and community service were handed by the court,” Ogbara-Banjoko disclosed.