202 Joggers Convicted For Violating Restriction Order In Lagos

All the 202 joggers arrested and charged before two Magistrate courts in Lagos by the Taskforce on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences on Thursday were convicted, New Nigerian Newspaper has learnt.

The defendants, who were fined between N5,000 and N10, 000 each, were also sentenced to two hours community service.They were tried by two Mobile Courts at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Panti, Yaba.
The Police Taskforce had arrested the violators at the early hours at over 15 areas in Lagos which include Yaba, Agege, Ogudu/Ojota and Iju areas of the metropolis while they were either jogging, cycling or loitering.
They were charged before two Magistrates: Mrs. Makanju Oshodi and Mr. Nurudeen Layeni of the Lagos Mobile Courts.
They all faced a charge of violating the Social Distancing Directives which are contrary to Regulation 1(1) of the COVID-19 Regulations which is punishable under Section 5 of the Public Health Laws of Lagos State 2015.
Many of them who pleaded guilty to the charge were ordered to pay fines ranging from N5,000 to N10,000 to the Lagos State Government and ordered to immediately begin a two-hour community service.
The Coordinator Mobile Courts, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Arinola Ogbara-Banjoko said that over 260 persons had been tried at the Mobile Courts for various violations since the lockdown began in Lagos.
“All juvenile offenders and persons with special needs that were apprehended were not arraigned at the Mobile Courts, they are over 50 and are not a part of the over 260 persons tried at the mobile courts.
“Deaf and dumb persons were separated because we do not have an interpreter. Fines of N10,000 and community service were handed by the court,” she informed.