The wheels of justice grind to a temporary halt in the criminal trial of Nigerian singer Azeez Fashola, famously known as Naira Marley, as proceedings before a Federal High Court in Lagos encounter an impasse.
The trial’s progression screeched to a standstill on Wednesday, owing to a pending application awaiting fiat approval from the Chief Judge of the court.
Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari, the prosecutor, apprised Justice Isaac Dipeolu, the trial judge, of the snag, elucidating that the application for fiat, crucial for the continuity of the trial under the former judge’s jurisdiction, remains in limbo since its submission on December 8, 2023.
The backdrop to this legal drama stems from charges levied against Naira Marley by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) concerning cybercrime.
The anti-graft agency laid down these charges on May 14, 2019, alleging illicit activities spanning from November 26, 2018, to December 11, 2018, and May 10, 2019.
Fashola, known for his hit song “Am I a Yahoo Boy,” initially faced arraignment before Justice Nicholas Oweibo on May 20, 2019, where he pleaded not guilty.
Subsequently, Justice Oweibo granted him bail amounting to N2 million, with two sureties in kind, as trial proceedings commenced and witnesses provided evidence.
However, the transfer of Justice Oweibo out of the Lagos division necessitated the case’s relocation to a new judge, Justice Dipeolu.
Upon the case’s maiden appearance before Justice Dipeolu, with Mrs. Buhari representing the prosecution and Mr. V.C Maduagwu appearing for the defense, it became evident that the pending fiat application posed a hurdle to the trial’s continuity.
Acknowledging this development, Justice Dipeolu adjourned the proceedings until May 30 for further review.
The EFCC’s accusations against the defendant revolve around allegations of conspiratorial use of Access Bank ATM cards to perpetrate fraud, contravening provisions of the Cyber Crime (Prohibition) Prevention Act, 2015.
As the legal saga unfolds, the fate of Naira Marley hangs in the balance, awaiting the judiciary’s next move in a case fraught with complexity and implications for both the defendant and the broader legal landscape surrounding cybercrime prosecution in Nigeria.
