Naira Marley Causes Stir With Mystery Red Bag In The Dock

The Am I a Yahoo Boy, singer, Azeez Fashola otherwise known as Naira Marley caused a controversy on Tuesday after he took a red bag into the dock at his resumed trial for ATM fraud.

The defendant had entered the witness box with a long small red bag, hanging across his left shoulder down to his right waist.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had preferred an 11-count charge against the musician bordering on conspiracy, possession of counterfeit cards and fraud before Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Lagos State High Court.

Also mentioned in the charge is one Yad Isril, who is said to still be at large.

Marley who first arraigned on May 20, however, denies the charges.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, the EFCC counsel  had urged the court to order the defendant to remove the bag in his possession from the dock.

According to Oyedepo, the defendant is expected to appear before the court “unfettered”.

Before the court could make any pronouncement, the defendant quickly removed the bag.

Meanwhile, trial in the suit could not proceed, following an application by defence counsel (Ojo).

Defence had urged Justice Oweibo to halt proceedings until a motion he filed earlier in the morning was determined.

In the motion, the defendant prayed the court to compel the EFCC to furnish him with the prosecution’s witnesses’ statements.

He prayed the court to hear his motion before the prosecution called its first witness.

But, EFCC counsel (Oyedepo) opposed the application for adjournment.

According to him, the prosecution is not in possession of the required document, adding that the defence is not entitled to the statements as of right.

In a bench ruling, however, Justice Oweibo granted the request of the defence and ordered the EFCC to provide the defence with its investigators’ statements, if any.

He adjourned trial until Oct. 23.

According to the charge, the defendant allegedly committed the offences on different dates between Nov. 26, Dec.11, 2018, and May 10.

The charge alleged that Fashola and his accomplices conspired to use different Access Bank ATM Cards to defraud their victims.

It said that the defendant allegedly used Access Card number 5264711020433662 issued to another person, in a bid to obtain fraudulent financial gains.

He was said to have possessed these counterfeit credit cards, belonging to different cardholders, with intent to defraud, which also amounted to theft.

The offences contravenes the provisions of Sections 1 23 (1) (b), 27 (1}, 33, 33(9) Cyber Crime (Prohibition) Prevention Act, 2015.

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