Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, adjourned the trial of Nigerian singer, Azeez Fashola popularly known as Naira Marley for alleged internet fraud, owing to the failure of the police to produce him in court for continuation of his trial.
The Economic and Finaancial Crimes Commision, on Monday made this known on its Facebook page.
Naira Marley is standing trial on 11 counts bordering on conspiracy and credit card fraud.
At the last sitting on October 6, 2023, counsel for the defendant, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, informed the court that the defendant was unavoidably absent in court owing to his detention by the police for interrogation in respect of the murder of a singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, also known as Mohbad.
Ojo had, therefore, prayed the court for an adjournment.
Responding, prosecution counsel, Bilkisu Buhari, had prayed the court to issue a production warrant against the defendant to ensure his presence in court on the next adjourned date.
After listening to both parties, Justice Oweibo granted the prayers of the prosecution counsel and also issued a production warrant against the defendant.
The judge also adjourned till Monday, October 30, 2023 for continuation of trial.
At Monday’s sitting, however, the defendant was not present in court.
Buhari told the court that though the prosecution served the police the production warrant, the defendant was not brought to court.
She, therefore, prayed the court for a further date to follow up with the police to produce the defendant.
Consequently, the judge adjourned the case till November 13 and 30, 2023 for continuation of trial.
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