Crime

Alleged cybercrime: EFCC’s suit against Naira Marley stalls

Published

3 years ago

March 7, 2024

The criminal trial of Nigerian singer Azeez Fashola, a.k.a Naira Marley, could not proceed before a Federal High Court Lagos on Wednesday, following a pending application for fiat before the Chief Judge of the court.

The prosecutor, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari, informed the trial judge, Justice Isaac Dipeolu, that an application for fiat to enable the former judge continue with trial of the defendant, is already awaiting approval by the CJ of the court.

She said that the application is dated December 8, 2023.

Nollytrailers reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Naira Marley on charges bordering on cyber crime.

The anti-graft agency preferred the charges on May 14, 2019.

Fashola, who sang the popular song: “Am I a yahoo boy”, was arraigned on May 20, 2019 before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, but he had pleaded not guilty.

Justice Oweibo had accordingly, granted him bail in the sum of N2 million, with two sureties in like sum.

Trial has since commenced in the case and witnesses were still being led in evidence, but Justice Oweibo, was later transferred out of the Lagos division of the court.

The case was, therefore, transferred to a new judge, Dipeolu.

When the case was called for the first time before Justice Dipeolu, Buhari appeared for the prosecution while Mr V.C Maduagwu, appeared for the defendant.

Defence counsel also confirmed the position as stated by the prosecutor to the court.

Following information of the pending application for fiat as brought to the attention of the new judge by counsel, the court adjourned the case until May 30 for report.

The EFCC said the defendant committed the offences on different dates between November 26, 2018 and December 11, 2018, as well as May 10, 2019.

The commission alleged that Fashola and his accomplices conspired to use different Access Bank ATM cards to defraud their victims.

According to the anti-graft agency, the offenses contravene the provisions of Sections 1 23 (1) (b), 27 (1) and 33(9) of Cyber Crime (Prohibition) Prevention Act, 2015.

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Crime

EFCC Arraigns Two Over Alleged £110,000 and ₦500m Fraud in Lagos

Published

1 month ago

September 5, 2026

Basit Saba

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned two men, Ali Bala and Yusuf Umar Anka, before the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja over alleged financial crimes involving £110,000 and ₦500 million.

The defendants were arraigned on Friday, 4 September 2026, before Justice Olukayode Ogunjobi on a 10-count charge bordering on money laundering, stealing and retention of stolen property.

One of the counts alleges that Bala, also known as Barrister Ahmed, and Anka conducted financial transactions in Lagos in 2025 involving proceeds of unlawful activities in an attempt to disguise the source of £110,000 allegedly stolen.

The commission said the alleged offence contravened Section 7(1)(b)(i) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, H.U. Kofarnaisa, asked the court to adjourn the matter for trial and sought an order for the defendants to be remanded in a correctional facility.

However, defence counsel informed the court that bail applications had already been filed on behalf of the defendants.

Justice Ogunjobi subsequently adjourned the case until 8 September 2026 for hearing of the bail applications and ordered that Bala and Anka remain in EFCC custody pending the hearing.