The Lagos State government has agreed to withdraw charges against former governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party, ADP, in Lagos State, Babatunde Gbadamosi, his wife Folasade, and popular singer Naira Marley.
This is as the defendants accepted to tender written apologies to the Lagos State Government, as well as to issue undertakings to comply with the directive on lockdown and social distancing, including a stay in isolation for the next 14 days.
At the arraignment of the governorship candidate of the ADP in the 2019 gubernatorial election, Gbadamosi, his wife alongside musician, Fashola, popularly called Naira Marley.
This was after they attended a party which was organised by Funke Akindele for her husband, Abdul Rasheed Bello (JJCSkillz) at their residence in the Ibeju-Lekki area of the state.
The party was in violation of the state government’s social distancing directive to limit the spread of the Coronavirus.
As against what happened on Monday when Funke Akindele and her husband were arraigned, journalists were barred from covering the court proceedings today as security operatives manned the entrance to the court.
The defendants with their face masks were sneaked into the courtroom.
After announcement of appearance, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions informed the court that even though the State had filed a charge before the court, few minutes before the court sat, the Attorney General of the State was ready to settle out of court if the three defendants were ready to fulfil certain conditions.
They were required to write a formal apology to the Government of Lagos State which will solidify their remorsefulness.
Additionally, they have to give an undertaking in writing that they will continue to comply with the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu which is the subject matter of the case before the court.
Relatedly, in view of the danger which the State believes they’ve put themselves by attending a gathering exceeding 20 persons, they must agree to go on 14 days isolation to protect other members of the public from any likely danger.
The defendants through their counsel all agreed to the conditions and the court has adjourned till tomorrow for the prosecution to brief the court on whether all the conditions have been met failing which they will be arraigned.
Funke Akindele and her husband who hosted the party, were already arraigned on Monday and sentenced to one week of community service and asked to pay a fine of N100,000 each.
