Osogbo — Two magistrate courts in Osogbo, Osun State, yesterday convicted 98 people for not wearing the face mask as part of precautionary measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease.

Officials of the Osun State government arrested them yesterday and arraigned them in court immediately.

The prosecutor, M. R. Faremi, told the courts that the defendants did not obey the COVID-19 guideline and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249(d)(3) of the Criminal

Code Cap 34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State Nigeria 2002.

All the accused persons pleaded guilty to the charge levelled against them, except only one, Awotunde Omotola, who pleaded not guilty.

Magistrates Ishola Omisade and Modupe Awodele convicted the defendants and sentenced them to community service, with a fine option of N2,000 each.

Omotola was remanded in custody till August 5, 2020 when the case against him will come up for hearing.