Whyte Dein, the Head of the Cybercrime Section of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says a forensic investigation led by his team indicted Azeez Fashola, known as Naira Marley, of alleged credit card fraud.
Dein, who is also a Chief Detective Officer with the EFCC, was testifying in the ongoing trial of Naira Marley over allegations of alleged cybercrime offences.
The musician who is standing trial on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, possession of counterfeit credit cards, and fraud., was arrested on May 14, 2019, by the operatives of the anti-graft agency and consequently arraigned.
When he was arraigned on May 20, 2019, he pleaded not guilty and was granted bail by the court.
At the resumed hearing of the matter on Thursday, Dein, led in evidence by Rotimi Oyedepo, the EFCC’s counsel, told the trial judge, Justice Nicholas Oweibo, that his team’s investigation revealed various messages sent from the defendant’s iPhone to one Raze, who had asked for a credit card number and validity date.
Dein claimed the forensic investigation revealed the ‘Soapy’ crooner committed the offences on different dates between November 26, 2018, and December 11, 2018, as well as May 10, 2019.
He also alleged that some of the credit cards discovered in the defendant’s residence bore the fictitious names Nicole Louise Malyon and Timea Fedorne Tatar.
Dein stated, “One of our findings from the forensic report shows the exchange of chat messages with several persons when the defendant sent credit card details, including card numbers and expiration dates.
“Visa Card details were one of those sent by the defendant to a certain person known on his contact list as Raze. This message sent Visa Card details to Raze, after which Raze replied to him that the card was not valid.
“We were able to establish through investigation the previous messages he sent with a wrong card that was indeed not valid. We then repeated the same process a second time which was now valid.”
He continued, “The defendant used malicious tools to disguise the identity and location of the user of the laptop when connected to the internet along with the presence of the Top Browser which acted as a single gateway to the dark net.
“This gave us reasonable grounds to suspect that the defendant had been engaging in fraudulent card activities or obtaining illegally. And this was established during a reply to our request for a Visa Western Union Card.
“The types of sites most commonly associated with the dark web are marketplaces where illicit goods such as narcotics, firearms, and stolen credit card numbers are bought and sold. The darkest corners are used to hire hitmen, engage in human trafficking, and exchange child pornography.”
Dein concluded that the totality of the forensic evidence revealed the defendant as a card fraudster.
Opposing Dein, the defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), relying on statutory and case law, objected to the EFCC witness’ opinion, arguing that only a court could conclude a case, based on the evidence.
Justice Oweibo, thereafter, adjourned the matter till July 13 and 15 for ruling on the point and continuation of the trial.
