On 14th December 2020, Nigerian singers Omah Stanley Dibia aka Omah Lay and Temilade Openiyi aka Tems were reportedly arrested in Uganda where they went for a live show. The Nigerian singers Tems and Omah Lay were then charged to court for flaunting the COVID-19 laws in Uganda.
According to reports, Omah Lay was charged with “Negligently doing acts likely to spread infectious diseases.” The talented music producer was facing a seven years jail term if found guilty of the charge. The Ugandan police tweeting on their verified Twitter handle claimed Omah Didia alias Omah Lay, Temilade Openyi alias Tems, and Muyiwa Awomiyi were charged to court in Makindye on charges of Negligently doing acts likely to spread infectious diseases. The police said Omah Lay went against section 171 of the Ugandan Penal Code.

The penal code of negligent act likely to spread infection of disease states that

“Any person who unlawfully or negligently does any act which is and which he or she knows or has reason to believe to be likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life commits an offense and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.”

Though Omah Lay and Tems were later released on Wednesday 16th December 2020 following the protests by their fans, other Nigerian celebrities, and the efforts of the Nigerian ministry of foreign affairs, this incident will most definitely affect Omah Lay’s brand.

Here are a few ways the arrest could affect Omah Lay’s brand as a musical artiste.

Engagement
Omah Lay so far stands as a virtual artiste who came to the limelight at a time when live shows, concerts, and other events were put on hold making it difficult for his fans to have a real-life connection with him. He has only been topping charts on streaming platforms and hasn’t had a chance to relate to his fans and connect properly with him. Though the majority of his fans are yet to connect with him physically, the arrest has giving most of them an opportunity to show him love with the social media protests and an opportunity to have him share with their struggles as humans.

More Streams and Exposure
Even though Omah Lay is already popular on Ugandan apple music as well as other African artists, this arrest made it to so many media firms within and outside Africa. This is organic publicity for Omah Lay. Most people who followed the arrest story will likely check out his material giving him more streams and exposure after all no publicity is bad publicity.

Editorial Source >> https://editorial.waploaded.com/forum/422886/how-omah-lay-arrest-could-affe

CC: Lalasticlala , Mynd44