Nigerian musician, Azeez Fashola (a.k.a Naira Marley), on Monday appeared before a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos over allegations bordering on credit card fraud and cyber crime by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Naira Marley was seen at 9:46am when he arrived the court premises, looking sober in his white T-shirt and black trousers.
The scene took an emotional turn when his mother burst into tears on sighting him while family members who accompanied her tried to pacify her.
Her agony was intensified when she witnessed the EFCC hand him over to the Nigerian Prison Service for detention until May 30, 2019.
Justice I.N. Oweibo stood down the case some minutes after the musician entered the dock, to wait for his counsel.
However, One of the defence counsels for Naira Marley, Taiwo Oreagba was on ground.
Following his arrest 10 days ago, the anti-graft agency filed an 11-count charge against him.
The charges read in part,
“That you, Azeez Adeshina Fashola, aka Naira Marley, and Raze (still at large), on or about the 11th day of December 2018, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired amongst yourselves to use Access card 42658840359191132 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 Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 33(2) of the Same Act.
That you, Azeez Adeshina Fashola, aka Naira Marley, and Raze (still at large), on or about the 10th day of May 2019, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, with intent to defraud possessed, counterfeit card 4921819410257431 issued to Timea Fedorne Tatar and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 33(9) of Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015.”
The charges with suit number FHC/L/178C/19 were filed before the Lagos High Court.
Naira Marley had been on May 10 alongside colleague, Omoniyi Raphael, popularly known as Zlatan, and three others.
The ‘Am I a Yahoo Boy’ singer was held in EFCC custody despite the release of colleague, Zlatan Ibile, and others on Tuesday.
EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade, said Zlatan and the others were released on administrative bail.
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