ALLEGED CYBERCRIME: JUDGE’S ABSENCE STALLS NAIRA MARLEY'S TRIAL

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The trial of well-known street-hop artist Azeez Fashola, better known by his stage name Naira Marley, who was accused of cybercrime, has come to a standstill since the judge assigned to render a decision in the Federal High Court located in Lagos State is not present.

A judges’ conference is said to have been attended by trial judge Justice Nicholas Owiebo, which prevented the court from holding its Monday trial session.

According to a report, on May 14, 2019, the defendant was being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on allegations that bear resemblance to cybercrime.

After being paraded, Fashola became known for the phrase “Am I a Yahoo boy?” As a result, on May 20, 2019, he was charged before Justice Nicholas Oweibo; however, he entered a not guilty plea.

As a result, the court granted him bail in the amount of N2 million, with two sureties contributing the same amount.

Since then, the case has gone to trial, and it is still going on.

Following the defendant’s absence from the trial on October 6, Justice Oweibo issued a warrant for the defendant’s production.

Oweibo’s ruling came after Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari, the prosecution, requested a production warrant.

Remember that Naira Marley and Sam Larry, a friend of Marley’s, were being held by the Lagos State Police Command in relation to the passing of Oladimeji Aloba, a.k.a. “Mohbad,” an artist.

Defence attorney Mr. Olalekan Ojo (SAN) told the court at the most recent postponement on October 30 that the defendant was still conspicuously absent from the court, even after the court had ordered his production.

As a result, the court postponed the case until November 13 and 30 in order to continue the trial.