Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Lagos again failed to produce controversial musician, Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley, for his trial over cybercrime and fraud.
No reason was given for the absence of the musician, as the police authorities had kept Naira Marley in its custody since October 3 this year, over his alleged involvement in the death of Afrobeat musician, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.
He was remanded in the custody of the police for 21 days by a Lagos State Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Yaba on October 3, 2023.
Naira Marley is standing trial before the court on an 11-count charge of money laundering and internet fraud brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He was arraigned on May 20, 2019, and pleaded not guilty and was granted bail by the judge
The trial has since commenced in the case and is still ongoing.
LEADERSHIP recalled that Justice Oweibo had issued a warrant for production on the police after they failed to produce him at the court’s last sitting on October 6.
At the resumed hearing, the defence lawyer, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), informed the court that the defendant is still clearly absent from his trial despite the court’s order that a production warrant be served on the police for them to produce him.
In response, the prosecutor told the court that although she had asked the court for a production warrant for the defendant, he was still absent.
