The trial of Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, has been adjourned till October 5, 2021.
Recall that Naira Marley was arrested in May 2019 and he is being prosecuted by the EFCC on an 11-count charge of conspiracy, possession of counterfeit cards and fraud. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges, thereby leading to his first trial on February 27 and 28, 2020.
On the 12th of July, Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the federal high court in Ikoyi, Lagos set a date for the continuation of Naira Marley`s trial.
Since the commencement of the trial, the prosecution had called two witnesses, Nuru Buhari Dalhatu and Augustine Anosike, both forensic experts with the EFCC, who revealed to the court how the defendant frequently visited sites where stolen credit cards were sold to interested fraudsters as well as other shocking evidence recovered from the defendant`s mobile device.
At the resumed sitting, the prosecution counsel, Bilkisu Buhari, informed the court that the matter was slated for cross-examination of the second prosecution witness, PW2, Anosike, and also urged the court to call on the witness for the continuation of the hearing.
However, counsel to the defendants, Akinwale Kola-Taiwo, asked the court for a short date on the grounds that “the matter is for mention today and not continuation as disclosed by the prosecution.”
Justice Oweibo granted the prayer of the defence and adjourned the matter until October 5, 6 and 7, 2021.
