Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Matthew Atungwu
Published on 2024-03-06 11:05:35
The criminal trial of Nigerian singer Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, hit a roadblock on Wednesday as the proceedings could not proceed before a Federal High Court in Lagos. The delay was due to a pending application for fiat before the Chief Judge of the court, as informed by the prosecutor, Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari. The application, dated December 8, 2023, is awaiting approval for the former judge to continue with the trial of the defendant.
Naira Marley is facing charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for cybercrime. The anti-graft agency filed the charges on May 14, 2019. Fashola, who rose to fame with the song “Am I a yahoo boy,” pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned on May 20, 2019 before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, who granted him bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum.
The trial had commenced under Justice Oweibo, but the case was transferred to a new judge, Justice Dipeolu, following Oweibo’s transfer out of the Lagos division of the court. During the first appearance before Justice Dipeolu, the prosecution and defense counsel confirmed the status of the pending application for fiat. As a result, the court adjourned the case until May 30 for further report.
The EFCC alleges that Naira Marley committed the offenses on various dates between November 26, 2018, and December 11, 2018, as well as on May 10, 2019. The commission accuses Fashola and his accomplices of conspiring to use different Access Bank ATM cards to defraud their victims, violating the provisions of the Cyber Crime (Prohibition) Prevention Act, 2015.
The case has been ongoing with witnesses still being led in evidence, but the delay caused by the pending application for fiat has put a temporary halt to the proceedings. The legal process surrounding Naira Marley’s trial continues to unfold as the court awaits the approval for the former judge to resume the trial. The next court date is scheduled for May 30, where further updates on the status of the application are expected to be provided.
As the legal battle continues, Naira Marley’s fans and the public await the outcome of the trial and the judgment that will be passed in the cybercrime case against the popular Nigerian singer. The twists and turns in the judicial process add to the intrigue surrounding the high-profile trial, as Naira Marley fights to clear his name in the face of serious allegations. The saga of Naira Marley’s criminal trial remains a topic of interest and speculation, with stakeholders closely monitoring the developments in the case.
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