The trial of singer Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, for alleged cybercrime faced delays at the Federal High Court in Lagos due to the pending approval of a judicial fiat by the chief judge.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Fashola on charges filed on May 14, 2019. Naira Marley, famed for his song “Am I a Yahoo Boy,” pleaded not guilty when arraigned before Justice Nicholas Oweibo on May 20, 2019, who subsequently granted him bail.
The case was later reassigned to Justice Isaac Dipeolu following the transfer of Justice Oweibo out of the Lagos division.
At the most recent hearing on March 6, both defense and prosecution counsel informed Justice Dipeolu about the pending fiat awaiting approval.
The case was adjourned to May 30 for an update, but the fiat had not been approved by then, and no new date has been set for the continuation of the trial.
The EFCC alleges that Fashola committed the offenses between November 26, 2018, and December 11, 2018, as well as on May 10, 2019.
The charges include conspiring to defraud victims using different ATM cards and possessing counterfeit credit cards with the intent to defraud, in violation of the Cyber Crime (Prohibition) Prevention Act, 2015.
