Why Naira Marley and Gbadamosi Arraignment Are Delayed

Lagos State Police command has said no date has been fixed for the arraignment of singer Naira Marley and former governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Babatunde Gbadamosi and his wife.

Naira Marley and the Gbadamosi’s were arrested on Monday for violating the Infectious Disease Regulation of Lagos state when they attended the birthday party organized by actress Funke Akindele and her hubby, JJCSkillz over the weekend.

Funke and her husband were arraigned before the Ogba Magistrate court on Monday April 6th for flouting the social distancing order of the state government by organizing a party.

They were sentenced to 14 days community service and ordered to pay N200,000 fine and were also ordered to immediately go into 14 days isolation to determine if they might have contracted the novel Coronavirus during the event.

Spokesperson of the police command, Bala Elkana, who confirmed the delay in Naira Marley and the Gbadamosi’s arraignment, said no court would be opened in the state on Tuesday due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He told the Nation:

I don’t know who proposed today. They will be arraigned, but no court is sitting today. Courts don’t sit today. They have days they sit now because of this Coronavirus. They sat yesterday (Monday), the next sitting will be tomorrow (Wednesday).

A top official of the Ministry of Justice, who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Nation, said some Magistrate Courts in the state only sit on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, between 10am and 1pm.

He said this follows a March 30 directive from the Chief Judge, Justice Kazeem Alogba, in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown.

The source hinted that the proposed arraignment of Naira Marley and the Gbadamosi’s would take place on Wednesday April 8.