By Uzoma Akobundu
Young Nigerian musician Azeez Fashola (aka Naira Marley) was on Monday asked to be remanded in prison custody until his matter comes up again on May 30 and argument on bail heard.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned him before Justice Nicholas Oweibo of a Federal High Court Lagos Nigeria on offences bordering on fraud.
He was docked on 11- count charge of conspiracy, possession of counterfeit cards, and fraud.
He was said to have conspired with his alleged accomplice to use different Access Cards to defraud their victims.
For instance, he was said to have used Access Card number 5264711020433662 issued to other persons, in a bid to obtain fraudulent financial gains.
He was alleged to have possessed these counterfeit credit cards, belonging to different cardholders, with intent to defraud, and which also constitutes theft.
The offences, the EFCC said, contravene the provisions of Section 1, 23 (1) (b), 27 (1}, 33, 33(9) Cyber Crime (Prohibition) Prevention Act, 2015.
One Yad Isril, who is said to be at large, was mentioned as his accomplice.
After listening to the charge preferred against him read out, Naira Marley pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
With the not guilty plea, the prosecutor, the EFCC Rotimi Oyedepo urged the court to set a date for trial.
Naira Marley defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN) informed the court of a bail application he filed on his behalf.
Justice Oweibo then adjourned the case until May 30 to hear the bail application and ordered that he be remanded in prison custody pending bail.
According to the charge, the defendant was alleged to have committed the offence on different dates such as November 26, 2018, December 11, 2018, and May 10, 2019.