Two pastors, Daramola Abiodun and Sunday Akinwade, were on Tuesday arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court for allegedly conducting a religious service with more than 30 persons in attendance, contrary to the order of the Ekiti State Government amidst the current lockdown
The State Prosecutor, Mr Femi Onipede, alleged that the duo committed the offence on April 19 at about 10:00 a.m at Source of Salvation Ministries, Omisanjana, Ado-Ekiti in Ado-Ekiti Magisterial District without lawful excuse.
He told the court that the pastors were arraigned on a two-count charge of conducting a religious gathering of more than 30 person and violating a lawful order contrary to and punishable under Section 203 of the Criminal Code Law., Cap C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.
Onipede said the clergymen were arrested during monitoring by the security operatives to ensure compliance by churches.
The offences, according to the prosecutor, violated the 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.
The defendants pleaded guilty to the charges.
The Magistrate, Mr Lanre Owoleso, consequently convicted the two pastors and ordered them to pay a fine of N50,000 each and engage in a one-hour community service on the two counts.