Naira Marley finally freed from custody two weeks after bail

Embattled Nigerian artist, Azeez Fashola, better known as Naira Marley, has been released from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The upcoming singer was released on Friday, about two weeks after he was granted bail by a federal high court in Lagos.

He was arraigned on 11-count fraud offence, following his arrest by the anti-graft agency. He, however, denied wrongdoings.

Marley was granted bail of N2 million on May 30, but has been in prison custody pending when he would perfect his bail conditions.

Nicholas Oweibo, who presided over the case, had granted the bail with two sureties in like some, one of which must be on grade level 10 on the federal or state employment.

https://twitter.com/topnaija/status/1139788087737966592

The other surety must have a landed property within the court’s jurisdiction, said the judge.

Oweibo had adjourned the case till October 22, for accelerated hearing.

Before his arrest on May 10, Naira Marley has been in the news for advocating the cause of internet fraudsters.

During an Instagram live session in April, he had urged Nigerians to pray for internet fraudsters (Yahoo boys) “as they are crucial to the circulation of money in the economy.”

In the suit before the court, the anti-graft agency said it was using section 33 (2) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act and the Cyber Crimes Act to prosecute the upcoming singer.

The charges against the singer read in part: “That you, Azeez Adeshina Fashola, aka Naira Marley, and Raze (still at large), on or about the 11th day of December 2018, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired amongst yourselves to use Access card 42658840359191132 issued to persons other than you in a bid to obtain gain and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27(1)(b) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015 and punishable under Section 33(2) of the Same Act.

“That you, Azeez Adeshina Fashola, aka Naira Marley, and Raze (still at large), on or about the 10th day of May 2019, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, with intent to defraud possessed, counterfeit card 4921819410257431 issued to Timea Fedorne Tatar and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 33(9) of Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act 2015.”

Marley risks seven years in jail if found guilty.