Controversial music star, Azeez Fashola, more known as Naira Marley have pleaded guilty to violating a COVID-19 lockdown order in Lagos.
His manager, Seyi Awouga, also pleaded guilty to the same offence on Thursday.
The two men were awarded a fine of one hundred thousand naira each by the presiding Magistrate, a police statement said.
Naira Marley had embarked on a non-essential trip from Lagos to Abuja in June when the country was battling to contain the spread of coronavirus pandemic.
Police spokesman, Bala Elkana said in the statement that, “He travelled from Lagos to Abuja and back to Lagos the same date, through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja for a musical concert in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.”
The police said Naira Marley was charged to the Lagos State Special Offences (Mobile) Court, Oshodi under “the 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.”
The federal government had suspended the airline, Executive Jet Services, which flew the artist, although the ban has now been lifted.
On April 9, Naira Marley signed an undertaking to join the Lagos state government’s campaign against the spread of COVID-19 after he was charged for breaching the state’s social distancing directive.
