A magistrates’ court in Yaba, Lagos has sentenced 34 fitness enthusiasts to one month of community service and 14 days of quarantine for jogging on the Gbagada-Oworonsoki expressway.
According to the court, their act was in violation of the social distancing directives of the Lagos state government.
The Federal Government had on March 29 declared a 14-day stay-at-home order for residents in Lagos, Ogun and FCT in order to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak in the nation.
The court therefore sentenced the offenders after they pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of working out in a group larger than 20 persons, the Nation reports.
The judge said the convicted offenders should be quarantined at the Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Yaba or any other place designated by the government. Three others pleaded not guilty.
It would be recalled that some photos had surfaced on the internet showing large number of Lagos residents violating the lockdown order of the federal government by taking part in group exercise sessions on major roads in the state.
The incident was reported to have occurred at Aruna, Agric axis, Ikorodu road and also Gbagada on Tuesday, April 7.
The lockdown, which started on March 30, has witnessed huge compliance in the states, but some Nigerians have been violating the order.
Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) has since stepped up enforcement of the lockdown to keep people off the roads to observe the social distancing and stay-at-home rule.
See photos of enforcement below;
See photos that were posted online of the exercise enthusiasts below;
