The state claimed that the convict broke out of confinement thereby becoming a nuisance to the public contrary to Section 17(2) of the Coroner Pandemic Emergency law 2021 and Section 6(m) of the public health law, laws of Lagos state 2015.
Before she was convicted, the prosecutor, Benedicta Shokoya, had told the court that Mrs. Raji with Passport Number B00166532 came into Lagos State on Qatar Airline flight on May 23, 2021 from India, one of the ‘Red’ listed countries, and was transported to one of the Isolation Hotels, Airport Hotel.
She claimed, “Since her arrival at the hotel, the passenger has consistently left the hotel as the surveillance team whilst visiting the hotel did not meet her at the facility at least on two occasions.
“On another occasion, she left to attend her daughter’s wedding and came back around 8:pm of the same day according to the Hotel staff.
“Unfortunately, the passenger’s Day 7 test was conducted and returned positive the next day despite having a negative Day 2 test”, she stated.
The lawyer thereforeurged the court to convict the defendant accordingly having pleaded guilty to the charges.
In her Judgement, Magistrate Adeola sentenced the convict to 14 days Community Service, to be carried out at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja and also ordered her to pay a fine of N15,000 for each count charge.
The court held that community service is to run concurrently while the fine is to be paid separately for both courts.
