By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday arraigned a young Nigerian musician, Azeez Fashola, popularly called ‘Naira Marley’ before Justice Nicholas Oweibo of a Federal High Court Lagos Nigeria on offences bordering on fraud.
The young musician was docked before the court by EFCC on 11- count charge of conspiracy, possession of counterfeit cards, and fraud.
Also mentioned in the charge is one Yad Isril, who is said to be still at large.
After hearing the charge preferred against him, Naira Marley (defendant) however, pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Following his not guilty plea, the prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo urged the court to set a date for trial.
In the meantime,the defence counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN) informed the court of a bail application filed on behalf of the defendant.
Justice Oweibo then adjourned the case until May 30 for hearing of the bail application and ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody pending bail.
According to the charge, the defendant was alleged to have committed the offence on different dates such as November 26, 2018, December 11, 2018, and May 10, 2019.
He was alleged to have conspired with his alleged accomplice, to use different Access Cards to defraud their victims.
Particularly, he was alleged to have used Access Card number 5264711020433662 issued to other persons, 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, and which also constitutes theft.
The offences contravene the provisions of Section 1, 23 (1) (b), 27 (1}, 33, 33(9) Cyber Crime (Prohibition) Prevention Act, 2015.
