In a surprising turn of events, the highly anticipated verdict in the cybercrime trial of street-hop artiste Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, has been delayed. The trial, scheduled to resume at the Federal High Court in Lagos State on Monday, encountered an unexpected setback as the presiding judge, Justice Nicholas Owiebo, was notably absent due to his attendance at a judges’ conference.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Naira Marley on charges related to cybercrime, dating back to May 14, 2019. The artist gained notoriety with his street anthem “Am I a yahoo boy,” a phrase that became synonymous with the trial.
Naira Marley was initially arraigned before Justice Nicholas Oweibo on May 20, 2019, where he pleaded not guilty. The court granted him bail in the amount of N2 million with two sureties of the same sum. Despite the ongoing trial, the proceedings hit a roadblock as Justice Oweibo issued a warrant for the defendant’s production following his absence on October 6.
This development followed an application for a production warrant by the prosecution, Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari. It’s worth noting that the artist, alongside his associate Sam Larry, had previously been detained by the Lagos State Police Command in connection with the death of artist Oladimeji Aloba, known as “Mohbad.”
During the last adjourned date on October 30, the defense counsel, Mr. Olalekan Ojo (SAN), informed the court about Naira Marley’s continued absence despite the production warrant. Consequently, the court adjourned the case until November 13 and 30 for the continuation of the trial, leaving the fate of the artist in the balance as legal proceedings unfold.