In a press statement released by Head, Public Affairs Unit, Lagos State Task Force Adebayo Taofiq, 65 offenders were arraigned at the Lagos Mobile Court over movement during the midnight curfew on New Year Day.
It stated:
“The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit (Taskforce) today arraigned 65 offenders at the Special Offences (Mobile) Court over movement during ‘Covid19 Mid-night Curfew’ on New Year’s Day in Lagos.
“Chairman of the Agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye disclosed that these 65 offenders were arrested around Lekki, Surulere, and Ikeja during a midnight enforcement operation on new year day as directed by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police CP Hakeem Odumosu.
“The Chairman disclosed further that 11 vehicles were also impounded for movement during the midnight curfew.”
Jejeloye stated that the Lagos State Government will not hesitate in bringing the full weight of the law to bear on any person or organization caught breaching ‘Public Health Regulations and Protocols’ with regards to the COVID19 disease.
“if we don’t do these, the surge will continue and with the new strain of COVID19 which is becoming much more difficult to handle than the old strain, the Lagos State Government will continue to insist and encourage Lagosians to please obey all the COVID19 Protocols.” He stated.
Citizens are urged to always wear face masks, properly wash, or sanitize their hands, and practice physical distancing in compliance with COVID19 safety guidelines.
Meanwhile, all the 65 arraigned offenders were fined N20,000 each with an additional one hour ‘Community Service’ after they all pleaded ‘Guilty’ to the one-count charge of breaching the curfew order is contrary to ‘Regulation 15 (3a-d) of the Lagos State Infectious Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulation 2020. Also, owners of the 11 impounded vehicles were fined N50.000 each by the court.
Magistrate Lateef Layeni, Magistrate Shakirat Obasa, and Magistrate Oluwatosin Fagboun of the Lagos State Special Offences (Mobile) Court presided over the matter.