A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Monday remanded embattled hip hop artist, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, over cybercrime and credit card fraud allegations.
Naira Marley arrived at the court premises around 9.46 am, looking sober in his white T-shirt and black trousers.
Justice Nicholas Oweibo did not accept the singer’s plea but ordered that he be remanded in Ikoyi prison till May 30 when arguments on his bail application will be heard.
Naira Marley’s bail application was put forward by his counsel, Taiwo Ore-agba.
The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, then 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.
Counsel to the defendant, Ore-Agba, asked the court for a date to hear the bail application on behalf his client.
When the counts were read to him, Naira Marley pleaded not guilty.
Justice Oweibo also ordered the police to return the case file following the singer’s arraignment before the court on 11 counts of alleged credit card fraud.
Fans and relatives of the popular upcoming pop artiste flooded the court premises. His mother broke down in tears uncontrollably after he was remanded in prison by the judge.
The defendant was arrested on May 10, 2019, following intelligence report received by the Commission about his alleged involvement in internet fraud.
The EFCC had preferred 11 charges bordering on fraud against the embattled musician, Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley.
The charges with suit number, FHC/L/178C/19, were filed before a Lagos State High Court on Thursday.
Some of the credit cards, according to the EFCC, bore the names 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 musician risks seven years in jail if found guilty, as Section 33 (2) which he was accused of breaching, reads, “Any person who uses: a counterfeit access device; an unauthorised access device; an access device issued to another person; resulting in a loss or gain commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not more than seven years or a fine of not more than N5,000,000.00 and forfeiture of the advantage or value derived from his act.
Naira Marley, who is controversial for repeatedly praising internet fraudsters, popularly called Yahoo boys, in his songs and on social media, has been detained by the EFCC for over a week before he was arraigned on Monday.
