Modupe Gbadeyanka
Embattled Nigerian artiste, Azeez Adeshina Fashola, otherwise known as Naira Marley, has been remanded in prison custody pending the hearing of the bail application.
The singer was arraigned on Monday, May 20, 2019, before Justice Nicholas I. Oweibo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on an 11-count charge bordering on cybercrime by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The defendant was arrested on May 10, 2019, following intelligence report received by the EFCC about his alleged involvement in internet fraud.
At the court today, the EFCC said, “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.”
But when this charge and others were read to the suspect, he pleaded not guilty and in view of his pleas, the prosecution counsel, Mr 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.
However, 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 for hearing of the bail application.
