COVID-19: Court fines Naira Marley over Abuja concert

An Abuja mobile court yesterday imposed a N200,000 fine on a Nigerian musician, Azeez Fashola, also known as Naira Marley, for violating COVID-19 protocols in Abuja.

The Administration filed a four-count charge bordering on violation of COVID-19 guidelines during his concert on June 13 at the Jabi Lake Mall in Abuja against the Lagos musician.

Magistrate Idayat Akanni ordered Marley to pay the fine after he pleaded guilty to the charges filed against him.

The magistrate further ordered him to publish a public apology in any national newspaper soon.

The concert stirred public condemnation after visuals of the crowd violating social distancing protocols, while the city was on eased lockdown over the Coronavirus pandemic, emerged.

Although management of Jabi denied knowledge of the show, the authorities proceeded to seal off the complex following the breach before a court ordered its reopening after 10 days.

Naira Marley allegedly flew into Abuja from Lagos in a chartered plane belonging to Jets Services Ltd earlier booked for a judge travelling to the FCT.

Felix Onigbinde Azeez Fashola, popularly called Naira Marley was arraigned before a COVID-19 mobile court in Abuja yesterday for organising a musical concert at the Jabi Lake Mall months ago. The singer was fined N50,000 for each of four-count charge bordering on disobeying Presidential Order on COVID-19.