By Kamil Opeyemi
Justice Nicholas Oweibo of a Federal High Court in Lagos, on Friday, issued a warrant for production of a Nigerian musician, Azeez Fashola, a.k.a “Naira Marley”, who is being detained by the police.
The trial judge, Oweibo, made the order following Naira Marley’s absence from his trial over alleged Internet fraud on Friday.
Naira Marley is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations bordering on credit card fraud.
However, the singer was absent from his trial on Friday.
Naira Marley’s lawyer, Mr Olalekan Ojo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), blamed the police for his client’s absence from court.
Ojo further informed the judge that Naira Marley was being held by the Lagos Police for interrogation over the death of Nigerian artiste, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, popularly known as “Mohbad”.
Recall that, a week ago, the police in Lagos detained Naira Marley and his associate, Sam Larry, in connection with Mohbad’s death.
Defence consequently sought an adjournment.
Meanwhile, the Prosecutor, Mrs Bilkisu Buhari, prayed the court to issue a production warrant against the defendant to ensure his presence in court on the next adjourned date.
The court, consequently, ordered the production of Naira Marley in court on Oct. 30, for the continuation of his criminal trial.
EFCC had on May 20, 2019 arraigned Naira Marley, who sang the popular song: “Am I a Yahoo Boy”, before the Federal High Court, Lagos.
A large crowd of his supporters turned up to witness his arraignment on an 11-count charge bordering on money laundering and Internet fraud.
The anti-graft agency said the offences were committed on different dates between Nov. 26, 2018 and Dec.11, 2018, as well as May 10, 2019.
The commission alleged that Naira Marley and his accomplices conspired to use different Access Bank ATM cards to defraud their victims.
The EFCC also said that the defendant possessed and used counterfeit credit cards belonging to different people, with intent to defraud others.
The alleged offences are said to contravene the provisions of Sections 1 23 (1) (b), 27 (1) and 33(9) of Cyber Crime (Prohibition) Prevention Act, 2015.
Before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, Naira Marley pleaded not guilty.
The court granted him bail in the sum of two million naira with two sureties in like sum.