Naira Marley pleads guilty to breaching lockdown

Nigerian musician Azeez Fashola, better known by his stage name Naira Marley, has pleaded guilty to breaching Covid-19 lockdown restrictions when he travelled to the capital, Abuja, for a concert.

The musician was arrested on Thursday alongside his manager for the offence committed in June when government had banned non-essential travel to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

They pleaded guilty and were each fined 100,000 naira ($258; £197).

The airline that flew them from the commercial hub of Lagos to Abuja was suspended indefinitely by the aviation minister, but later allowed to resume operations.

The airline said it mistook the musician's surname for a judge who was on essential travel.

Nigeria's Channel television tweeted:

Naira Marley, Manager Plead Guilty To Violating COVID-19 Lockdown Order https://t.co/2s0cbdxe9Q pic.twitter.com/xNwzJINw7S

— Channels Television (@channelstv) August 6, 2020

BBC