An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday discharged singer, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, and former governorship candidate, Babatunde Gbadamosi, and his wife Folashade.
The trio were charged to court for attending the 43rd birthday party hosted by Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele, for her husband Abdul-rasheed Bello, popularly known as JJC Skillz.
They were to be charged on April 8 on four counts of flouting the Lagos State social distancing directive.
However, following directives from the Lagos State Attorney-General (A-G), Moyosore Onigbanjo, all the charges were withdrawn on the condition that they tender a formal apology to the Lagos State Government and the Presidency.
Chief Magistrate Yewande Aje-Afunwa struck out the charges against the defendants.
“Upon the oral application of DPP on behalf of A-G which allocation is brought under Sections 71 and 73 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law,” she said.
“Which is pursuant to the fact that the three defendants have complied with conditions of the unchallenged application of DPP for the withdrawal of this charge MIK/A/44/2020.
“Leave is hereby granted by this court to the A-G to withdraw this charge against the three defendants. Accordingly, the three defendants are hereby discharged.”
Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Yhaqub Oshoala, had earlier told the court that the defendants had complied with all the stipulated conditions for the withdrawal of the charge.
“They have all written individual letters of apology and undertaking to support the government in all areas to curtail the COVID-19 pandemic and to go into self-isolation for 14-days,” Oshoala said.
