Absence of judge on Monday has stalled the trial of embattled Nigerian singer, Azeez Fashola, better known as Naira Marley, who is charged with cybercrime, before a Federal Court in Lagos.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the trial judge, Justice Nicholas Owiebo, is said to be attending a judges’ conference and the court did not sit.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting the defendant on charges bordering on cybercrime.
The anti-graft agency preferred the charges on May 14, 2019.
Fashola, who sang the popular song “Am I a Yahoo Boy?”, was consequently arraigned on May 20, 2019, before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, but he pleaded not guilty.
The court had accordingly granted him bail for two million naira, with two sureties in like sum.
The trial has since begun in the case and is still ongoing.
On Oct. 6, Justice Oweibo issued a warrant for production of the defendant, following his absence from trial on the last date.
Oweibo’s order followed an application for production warrant by the prosecution, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari.
NAN cited that the police in Lagos detained Naira Marley and his associate, Sam Larry, in connection with the death of Nigerian artiste, Oladimeji Aloba, popularly known as ‘Mohbad’.
At the last adjourned date of Oct. 30, defense counsel, Mr Olalekan Ojo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria,, informed the court that the defendant was still clearly absent from court despite the court’s order for his production.
The court had consequently adjourned the case until November 13 and 30 for continuation of trial.
