A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State has admitted more exhibits in evidence against Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley in the ongoing trial of the hip hop singer.
On Wednesday, Justice Nicolas Oweibo in his ruling admitted the Compact Disk containing the phone analysis of the singer, tendered in evidence by the second prosecution witness, Anosike Augustine on the ground that the iPhone which was analyzed has earlier been admitted as evidence.
The judge overruled the objection of Naira Marley’s counsel Olalekan Ojo (SAN) and admitted the CD in evidence, marked exhibit ‘F’.
Owoibo said, “l have considered the agreement of both parties as well as the ground for the objection, I consider the CD to be admissible in view of the nature of this case and the evidence of other prosecution witnesses.”
The court could not proceed with the trial of the case because the defense counsel, Olalekan Ojo, was not in court and sought an adjournment.
The adjournment was not opposed by the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Bilkisu Buhari.
The further trial was adjourned to 8th and 11th of March, 2020 by Justice Oweibo.
On May 20, 2019, the anti-graft agency had arraigned Naira Marley on 11 counts of money laundering and Internet fraud.
The EFCC alleged that some of the credit cards discovered in the singer’s residence bore the names of Nicole Louise Malyon and Timea Fedorne Tatar.
However, Naira Marley has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The anto-graft agency said the offenses contravened Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act and the Cyber Crime Act.
