Embattled rapper, Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley, was
arraigned at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos this morning to face 11
charges bordering on fraud against him for alleged credit card fraud.
He was remanded in EFCC custody till May 30th pending his
bail application.
Read the full statement below by EFCC.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos
Zonal office, on May 20, 2019, arraigned a Nigerian artiste, Azeez Adeshina
Fashola, also known as Naira Marley, before Justice Nicholas I. Oweibo of the
Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on an 11-count charge bordering on
cybercrime.
The defendant was arrested on May 10, 2019, following
intelligence report received by the Commission about his alleged involvement in
internet fraud.
One of the counts reads: “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.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred
against him.
In view of his pleas, the prosecution counsel, 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.
Counsel to the defendant, Taiwo Oluwa Ore- Agba, asked the
court for a date to hear the bail application on behalf of his client.
Consequently, Justice Oweibo adjourned the case to May 30,
2019, and ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody pending the
hearing of the bail application.
