Naira Marley Pleads ‘Not Guilty’, To Be Remanded In EFCC Custody Until May 30

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Monday arraigned a musician, Azeez Fashola (a.k.a Naira Marley) at the Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged internet fraud, popularly known as “Yahoo Yahoo”.

He was charged with 11 counts of violating the Cyber Crimes Act of 2015 before Justice Nicholas Oweibo.

The defendant pleaded not guilty.

Justice Oweibo ordered that he be remanded in prison custody until his bail application is determined.

EFCC brought the musician from custody at the about 9.46am under heavy security amid downpour.

Fashola, who risks seven years in jail if found guilty, wore t-shirt on a pair of jeans and slippers with his trademark dreadlocks.

Friends and associated thronged the court in solidarity.

A woman believed to be his mother broke down in tears on sighting Fashola as EFCC operatives and armed policemen led him from the bus that conveyed him to the court to the courtroom.

The charge, numbered FHC/L/178C/19, was filed last Wednesday.

It reads in part: “That you, Azeez Adeshina Fashola, aka Naira Marley, and Raze (still at large), on or about the 11th day of December 2018, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired amongst yourselves to use Access card 42658840359191132 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 Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 33(2) of the Same Act.

“That you, Azeez Adeshina Fashola, aka Naira Marley, and Raze (still at large), on or about the 10th day of May 2019, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud possessed counterfeit card 4921819410257431issued to Timea FedorneTatar and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 33(9) of Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015.”

The prosecution said some of the credit cards bore Nicole Louise Malyon and Timea Fedorne Tatar.

The singer was arrested on May 10 following intelligence report which EFCC said it received about his involvement in internet fraud.

Prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo asked the court for a trial date.

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

Defence Counsel Taiwo Oreagba, who stood in for renowned criminal defence lawyer Olalekan Ojo (SAN), said he filed a bail application for his client and prayed for a hearing date.

Naira Marley was arrested along with his friend and fellow musician, Zlatan Ibile, who was released.

Tiamiu Kayode, Adewunmi Moses and Abubakar Musa, his crew members, were also arrested and released.

Justice Oweibo adjourned until May 30 for hearing of the bail application.