FCT seals Jabi Lake Mall over Naira Marley’s concert
THE Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) and the Federal Ministerial Task Force on COVID- 19, yesterday, closed Jabi Lake Mall for violating their directives on the ban on social gatherings. It also placed a dusk- to- dawn curfew across the entire environment as part of measures to contain the spread of the pandemic in Abuja. Speaking to newsmen after sealing the mall, leader of the enforcement team, Ikharo Attah, lamented that despite many warnings from the task force and the FCT Administration on guidelines to operate, the management of the mall permitted a concert organised by Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, while also transacting business activities exceeding the normal hours allowed by the authorities.
Attah further disclosed that the administration had secured a judgment from a mobile court headed by Magistrate Idayat Akonni, who sat in the mall premises in Jabi to seal the mall for two weeks for defaulting the COVID- 19 protocols.
When asked if the FCT Administration planned to declare
Marley wanted, Attah said: ‘’ He flew in to Abuja on Saturday from Lagos and returned same day to Lagos. We are convinced that the Lagos State government who had, in recent past, had an unpleasant experience with the artiste will do the needful since he also breached the inter- state travel ban that applies to Lagos.”
Meanwhile, Nigerians have criticised the “Drive in Concert,” hosted by Marley on Saturday in Abuja. Most Nigerians who took to their social media handles yesterday described the concert as careless disobedience to guidelines amidst the raging pandemic.
This is the second time he would be caught flouting a COVID- 19 restriction after attending a birthday party in Lagos hosted by Funke Akindele for her husband in April during the total lockdown.
The Drive in Concert, organised by Play Network Africa, took place at the Jabi Lake Mall car park from 4: 00p. m. to 9: 00p. m. with over 100 FCT residents in attendance to watch Marley as he performed on stage.