Lagos State Assembly passes Jail Term law on Coronavirus lockdown violators.
Members of the Lagos State Assembly on Thursday March 26,
passed the “Emergency Coronavirus Pandemic Bill 2020” into the law.
This bill was personally sponsored by Speaker of the house
Mudashiru Obasa. This gives Governor Sanwo-Olu the legal backing to spend an
initial N20 billion to effectively contain coronavirus and enforce compliance
on Lagosians.
It also stipulates a
fine of N100,000 for defaulters, one month imprisonment in the correctional
centre or three months community service. Where the offence is not spelt out,
it attracts a N200,000 fine.
The law reads;
“The Bill empowers the Governor to incur the Kick-off
expenditure sum of N20 billion to combat and stop the spread of the Coronavirus
pandemic.
“The Governor in combating the Coronavirus pandemic shall
declare a state of emergency in the State to protect the people of the State
from the pandemic.
“The Bill calls for a Trust Fund named Coronavirus Pandemic
Trust Fund with a board to manage this, but supervised by the Executive. The
Trust fund shall consist of funds and material donations from individuals,
private and public organizations.
“As from the commencement of this law, only essential
services such as food supply, pharmacy, shops, water supply, petrol filling
Stations and other relevant agencies shall be in full operations unless the
Governor declares otherwise.
“All security agencies in the state including the Lagos
State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency shall effectively ensure that policy
directives of the Governor are implemented and enforced.
“Where there is a violation of a close down or stay at home
order, security Agencies shall have the power to arrest without warrant and may
detain any person who violates the close down or stay at home order for at
least 48 hours.
“Where the arrested person is found guilty, the person is
liable to a fine of N100,000.00 or one month imprisonment or three months
Community service.”
The bill which was passed into law also allows the
leadership of the various arms of government to structure their own restriction
format as Lagos currently has 44 confirmed cases of coronavirus.
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