Nigerians reacted over Naira Marley’s concert in Abuja despite the ban on gatherings and events of more than 20 people in the country put in place by government to curb the spread of Coronavirus in the country.
For flouting the Federal Government’s and the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s regulations on COVID-19, an Abuja High Court has ordered that the popular Jabi Lake Mall in Abuja, the capital city be sealed up for two weeks.
Magistrate Hidayat Akonni, who granted the order in suit MC/CR/COVID-19/3/2020 also convicted the Mall managers for violating the FCT COVID 19 guidelines and Quarantine law.
According to the court order in the suit in which Lukas Omotosho, Franklin Ogene, and Maya Ekah are the defendants, Magistrate Akoni ruled on the application by U. Umannah, the prosecution counsel who argued that the mall and the defendants had violated the dusk to dawn curfew order as well as the total ban on social gathering.
While the case has been adjourned to 25 June for hearing, the FCT Enforcement Task Team has immediately enforced the court’s order by closing the Jabi Lake Mall for allowing its facilities be used in violation of the directives on the ban of public gatherings as part of measures to contain the spread of the dreaded coronavirus in the territory.
The Court’s order came a day after popular musician Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley featured and entertained fun-seekers around the area.
Naira Marley who has come under intense criticism for performing at a concert that recorded massive attendance was gathered to have flown from Lagos to Abuja with Ex-BBNaija star, Kim Oprah, despite the ban on interstate movement and flights.
The seal off order is one of the highlights of the FCT team meeting on Sunday which considered punitive actions on the Saturday Abuja massive concert featuring the controversial Nigerian singer, Naira Marley who was accused by Lagos state for a similar offence.
Jabi Lake Mall Abuja is a popular shopping mall that hosts several outlets including Shoprite where residents go shopping.
Naira Marley and the organisers of the show defied the social distancing order at the Abuja concert where his fans trooped to the venue in their numbers amid coronavirus pandemic.
The ‘Soapy’ crooner had announced that he will be performing at a ‘Play Drive-In Concert’ at Silverbird Entertainment Center with guests in their cars but from the video online, the rules were broken.
Some Nigerians have called for the arrest of musician, for holding a concert despite the government ban on gatherings and events of more than 20 people to curb the spread of the virus in the country. Excited Fans who there in large numbers failed to observe the social distancing rule while only a few had their PPE’s(Personal Protection Equipments).
The concert held on the day the nation recorded fresh 501 cases of the coronavirus pandemic and eight fresh deaths. The cases announced Saturday night by the NCDC brought the total number to 15,682 patients that have tested positive to the virus.
This event is coming weeks after Naira Marley was arrested and charged before Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Ogba for flouting COVID-19 order alongside former governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Babatunde Gbadamosi
The singer and politician were guests at the party hosted by Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele and her husband, Abdul Rasheed Bello, Nigerian singer, and producer, better known as JJC Skillz.
The couple went against both Lagos State and Federal government orders on as they hosted a house party in celebration of JJC Skillz’s birthday amidst coronavirus lockdown.
The party was crowded with popular faces such as Naira Marley and Eniola Badmus in attendance.
