Two Pastors convicted for holding church service during lockdown

For defying the laws of the state government by holding church service of more than 30 persons, two pastors were arraigned and convicted on Tuesday by a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti.

Despite the stay-at-home and social distance order of the Ekiti state government, the pastors, Daramola Abiodun and Sunday Akinwade allegedly held church service and were arraigned before Magistrate Lanre Owoleso for two charges, holding church service of more than 30 persons and defying the lawful order.

The State Prosecutor, Mr Femi Onipede, explained that the defendants violated the lawful order of social distancing at Source of Salvation Ministries, Omisanjana in Ado-Ekiti in Ado-Ekiti Magisterial District without lawful excuse on April 19,2020. He explained that they violated provisions of Regulation 2(1) (b) punishable under Regulation 12 of the Ekiti State Coronavirus (prevention of infection) Regulation, 2020, made pursuant to Section 8 of the Quarantine Act, Cap Q2, LFN, 2004 and it is punishable under Section 203 of the Criminal Code Law., Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

The defendants pleaded guilty and Magistrate Owoleso sentenced each of them to one hour community service with the fine of #50,000 to be paid by each of them.