According to The Nation, a Federal High Court in Lagos has
just adjourned the alleged card fraud trial of musician, Azeez
Fashola popularly known as Naira Marley, who is facing card
fraud charges.
Justice Nicholas Oweibo made the decision so as to allow
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission counsel Mr
Rotimi Oyedepo and Fashola’s counsel Mr Olalekan Ojo SAN
to respond to two motions.
The court is yet to fix a date for trial proper, but has asked
Fashola’s counsel to move his motion.
The proceedings are ongoing.
Fashola, popular for his “Am I a Yahoo Boy” and “Soapy”
tracks, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an 11-count charge of
conspiracy, possession of counterfeit cards and fraud.
His co-defendant is one Yad Isril, who is said to still be at
large.
The defendant was arraigned on May 20 before Justice
Nicholas Oweibo, but pleaded not guilty.
He secured N2 million bail with two sureties in the like sum,
following an application by his counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo,
(SAN).
The trial was scheduled for yesterday, but the court did not
sit.
According to the charge, the defendant committed the
offences on different dates including November 26, 2018,
December 11, 2018, and May 10,
Fashola and his accomplices allegedly conspired to use
different Access Bank ATM Cards to defraud their victims.
They allegedly used Access Card number 5264711020433662
issued to other persons, in a bid to obtain fraudulent financial
gains.
Fashola was said to have possessed these counterfeit credit
cards, belonging to different cardholders, with intent to
defraud, and which also constituted theft.
The offences contravene the provisions of Section 1 23 (1)
(b), 27 (1}, 33, 33(9) Cyber Crime (Prohibition) Prevention Act,
2015.♦