Nigerian musician Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, who faces fraud charges, continued trial today. However, a Federal High Court in Lagos abruptly adjourned Naira Marley’s trial. Why? Read on to find out.

 

As you probably know, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Marley with 11 counts bordering on conspiracy, possession of counterfeit credit cards, and fraud. The popular “Issa goal” singer was arraigned on 20th May 2019 before Justice Nicholas Oweibo. However, he denied the charges.

 

Following a bail application by defence counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo, (SAN), the court granted Marley bail in the sum of ₦2 million with sureties in like sum.

 

Justice Nicholas Oweibo adjourned the case shortly after defence counsel Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN) had begun a cross examination of the first prosecution’s witness yesterday.

 

Then some arguments erupted in court between the counsel in suit following an insufficient seating arrangement. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the courtroom only has a few available seats. The seats in the courtroom are always insufficient to accommodate both lawyers and litigants.

 

The unavailability of seats then results in a good number of lawyers, litigants and even journalists often being forced to stand up in the courtroom throughout proceedings.

 

But, this time, the arguments constrained the court to move the trial to a further date: the 11th and 12th December 2019.

 

 

Yesterday, 23rd October 2019, the trial’s first prosecution witness, Mr Nuru Buhari, gave evidence on the information extracted from Naira Marley’s iPhone and laptop.

 

Led by the prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, the witness chronicled the various sites visited with the defendant’s electronic gadgets. He also outlined the various credit card operations conducted.

 

According to the charge, Marley allegedly committed the offenses on different dates. The dates were between 26th November 2018, 11th December 2018, and 10th May 2019.

 

The charge alleges that Marley and his accomplices conspired to use different Access Bank ATM cards to defraud their victims. It said that the defendant allegedly used another person’s card to obtain fraudulent financial gains. The card in question is an Access Card with number 5264711020433662.

 

He allegedly possessed these counterfeit credit cards, belonging to different cardholders, with intent to defraud. That also amounted to theft. The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 1 23 (1) (b), 27 (1}, 33, 33(9) Cyber Crime (Prohibition) Prevention Act, 2015.