Naira Marley’s Alleged Cybercrime Hits Slow Progress

Naira Marley’s Alleged Cybercrime Hits Slow Progress

The criminal trial of Nigerian musician Azeez Fashola, widely known as Naira Marley, was unable to proceed at a Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday due to a pending application for fiat before the Chief Judge of the court.

The prosecutor, Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari, informed Justice Isaac Dipeolu, the trial judge, that an application for fiat to allow the previous judge to continue presiding over the defendant’s trial is awaiting approval by the court’s Chief Judge.

This application was dated December 8, 2023.

Naira Marley, known for the hit song “Am I a yahoo boy,” was arraigned before Justice Nicholas Oweibo on May 20, 2019, where he pleaded not guilty.

Justice Oweibo granted him bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum.

Although the trial had started and witnesses were testifying, Justice Oweibo was transferred out of the Lagos division, leading to the case being reassigned to Justice Dipeolu.

During the first appearance before Justice Dipeolu, Mrs. Buhari represented the prosecution, while Mr. V.C. Maduagwu appeared for the defense.

The defense counsel acknowledged the situation as presented by the prosecutor.

After being informed about the pending fiat application, the court adjourned the case until May 30 for a progress report.

The EFCC alleges that the defendant committed the offenses on various dates between November 26, 2018, and December 11, 2018, as well as on May 10, 2019.

The commission claims that Fashola and his associates conspired to defraud victims using different Access Bank ATM cards, contravening the provisions of Sections 1, 23(1)(b), 27(1), and 33(9) of the Cyber Crime (Prohibition) Prevention Act, 2015.