Entertainment
Alleged Internet Fraud: Again, Court Adjourns Naira Marley’s Trial
A judge, Nicholas Oweibo, of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos,yesterday, adjourned the trial of Azeez Fashola, also known as Naira Marley, till February 16, 2022.
Our source reported how the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested Naira Marley, Zlatan, and four others in May 2019 in connection with an alleged case of internet fraud and money laundering.
The controversial artiste was arraigned on May 20, 2019, but pleaded not guilty and was granted bail.
The anti-graft agency alleged that some of the credit cards discovered in his residence bore the names Nicole Louise Malyon and Timea Fedorne Tatar.
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when he was arraigned for the first time on May 20, 2019.
At the last sitting on October 27, 2021, Augustine Anosike, a forensic analyst testifying as the second prosecution witness, had concluded his examination-in-chief.
The court subsequently adjourned till November 30, 2021 for cross-examination.
At Tuesday’s proceeding, however, the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that the witness was absent in court on “compassionate grounds”.
“I only got information as to the absence of the witness at about 9.30am while still in the parking lot of the court this morning,” he said, stressing that it was not in his character to waste the court’s time.
The defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, however, lamented the delay.
“It is rather unfortunate that the matter could not proceed today.
“ The prosecution ought to have given sufficient notice of the witness’ absence,” he said.
Subsequently, the judge, Mr Oweibo, adjourned till February 16 and 17, 2022 for continuation of trial.
During his trial on October 26, a witness chronicled the content of 2410 messages analysed in Naira Marley’s iPhone.
The EFCC alleged that Naira Marley and his accomplices conspired to use different Access Bank ATM cards to defraud their victims.
A second prosecution witness, Augustine Anosike, narrated how the messages as well as different credit card numbers were extracted from the singer’s phone.
Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, who examined him on Exhibit F, the witness first confirmed to the court that the said Exhibit F was a conclusion of his analysis of the defendant’s iPhone.
R&B star, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has recounted the early-career challenges she faced, revealing that she was once booed out of the stage while performing at a school event.
Speaking in an interview with Newsmen, the Crazy Tings crooner shared that she wasn’t only booed but was also harassed with plastic bottles.
“I remember one time I was going to perform at my school as an up-and-coming singer and I thought I was going to receiving a standing ovation.
“But I got booed. They even threw plastic bottles at me,” she recalled.
Tems explained that despite the embarrassing incident and other such rejections, she remained determined to pursue a career in music.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Tems admitted that some of the initial rejections she faced could be due to her conviction to stick to her originality instead of doing covers or familiar sounds like most of her peers.
The Grammy-winning singer said looking back now, she is glad that she didn’t compromise her style despite the initial pressures.
A close associate of late singer Mohbad, Primeboy, has appealed for the artiste’s burial nearly three years after his death.
According to him, Mohbad’s body remains in the mortuary since September 12, 2023, pending burial arrangements.
The Tide Entertainment reports that in a statement Primeboy urged the family, public, and government to permit the burial, stating, “It’s been almost three years since Mohbad left us. His body is still in the mortuary. I’m begging the family, I’m begging the public, I’m begging the government, please let’s bury our brother. He deserves a befitting burial.”
It would be recalled that Mohbad’s death sparked public outrage, protests, and investigations. Ongoing autopsy examinations, police inquiries, and legal proceedings have delayed burial arrangements amid family disagreements and public scrutiny.
Nancy Briggs
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