Naira Marley Pleads ‘Not Guilty’, To Be Remanded In EFCC Custody Until May 3

Nigerian musician, Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley, has been
arraigned at the Federal High Court in Lagos for an alleged credit
card fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged him
with 11-counts of the offence.

He pleaded not guilty before Justice Nicolas Oweibo.

The judge adjourned until May 30 for hearing of his bail
application.

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

Fashola risks seven years in jail if found guilty in accordance
with Section 33 (2) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention,
etc) Act, 2015.

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

Some of the credit cards, according to the EFCC, bore Nicole
Louise Malyon, and Timea Fedorne Tatar.

The alleged crimes were in contravention of the Money Laundering
(Prohibition) Act and the Cyber Crimes Act.

The charge read 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 4921819410257431 issued 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 singer, who was detained on May 10, is controversial for
repeatedly praising internet fraudsters, popularly called Yahoo
boys, in his songs and on social media.

Naira Marley was arrested alongside his friend and fellow
musician, Zlatan Ibile who was released last Wednesday.

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

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