NAIRA MARLEY UNDER TIGHT SECURITY IN COURT WITH EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, yesterday May 20, 2019, arraigned a Nigerian artiste, Azeez Adeshina Fashola, also known as Naira Marley, before Justice Nicholas I. Oweibo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on an 11-count charge bordering on cybercrime.

The defendant was arrested on May 10, 2019, following intelligence report received by the Commission about his alleged involvement in internet fraud.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Azeez Adeshina Fashola, aka Naira Marley, and Yad isril (still at large), on or about the 26th day of November, 2018, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired amongst yourself to use Access card no : 5264711020433662 issued to persons other than you in a bid to obtain gain and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27(1) (b) of the Cybercrime Prohibition, Prevention etc Act 2015 and punishable under Section 33(2) of the same Act.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him.

In view of his pleas, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, asked the court for a trial date.

He also prayed for accelerated hearing of the case and urged the court to remand the defendant in prison custody.

Counsel to the defendant, Taiwo Oluwa Ore- Agba, asked the court for a date to hear the bail application on behalf his client.

Consequently, Justice Oweibo adjourned the case to May 30, 2019 and ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody pending the hearing of the bail application.

Naira Marley’s mother who was at the court to witness her son’s arraignment is currently in tears.

Her agony was intensified when she witnessed the EFCC hand him over to the Nigerian Prison Service for detention until May 30, 2019.