The Lagos State Government on Friday, April 10th, 2020 released the letter of apology written to it by singer, Naira Marley, for violating COVID-19 lockdown order in the state.

Naira Marley had attended a birthday party on Saturday, April 4, 2020, that contravened the social distancing directive of the government to curb the spread of the COVID-19.

The state government had filed charges against him before the state Magistrates’ Court in Ogba, and he was scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, April 8th together with the Action Democratic Party’s candidate in the 2019 governorship election in Lagos, Babatunde Gbadamosi, and his wife, Folashade, who also attended the house party.

But the state government decided later to drop the charges on the condition that Marley and Gbadamosi would produce written letters of apology to the government; sign undertakings to henceforth abide by the social distancing and stay-at-home directives; and self-isolate themselves for fourteen (14) days.

Fulfilling one of the conditions for the police withdrawal of the case, Marley, in a letter dated Thursday, April 9th, 2020 apologised to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Part of the letter read,

I hereby apologise unreservedly to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the good people of Lagos State in any manner that I may have violated the Social Distancing Regulations and the stay-home order of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Governor of Lagos State, as same was not done as a result of deliberate disrespect to their persons, authorities, and governments.

That I agree to be in self-isolation in my house…for a period of 14 days commencing from today, Thursday 9th April 2020 and that the Lagos State Ministry of Health should supervise my isolation.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.