COVID-19 GUIDELINES VIOLATION: UGANDA COURT FREES NIGERIAN ARTISTES OMAH LAY, TEMS
A Court in Kampala, Uganda has ordered the immediate release of Nigerian singers, Stanley Omah Didia AKA Omah Lay and Temilade Openiyi AKA Tems after spending three days in custody of the East African country Police.
The fast-rising Nigerian singers, alongside one Muyiwa Awomiyi, were arrested on Saturday by police officers in Kampala, Uganda capital for flouting COVID-19 guidelines imposed by the Government.
They were held by the police and being charged for involvement in “acts that are likely to cause the spread of infectious disease, Covid-19.”
The Nigerian trio were later charged to court in Makindye on Monday, on charges of "negligently doing acts likely to spread an infectious diseases C/S 171 of the Penal Code Act."
The Uganda police force said earlier plans of releasing them on police bond were suspended after their casefile was sanctioned by the Office of the DPP.
The police Force had on Monday, December 14, announced that the trio will remain in the custody of the Uganda Police force till Wednesday, December 16.
However, during the ruling on Tuesday, the Magistrate, Okumu Jude Muwone said the charges against the three defendants have been withdrawn and hereby ordered the police to release them from custody unless they were held on other charges.
Following the arrest and detention of the Headies nominated artistes, Nigerians took to the social media, especially twitter using different hashtags like #FreeTemsAndOmahLay, to condemn the move by the Ugandan Government.
After cries from concerned Nigerians, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) said it has intervened and also promised to secure the release of the trio.
Shortly after the court order, the CEO and Chairman of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa assured Nigerians that the trio will return to Nigeria soon.
She also advised Nigerians, especially the youths traveling abroad to familiarise themselves with the laws of the country they are visiting and abide by them.
The NiDCOM boss reiterated commission's commitment to the welfare of every Nigerian anywhere in the world.
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