By Fawaz Adebisi
The trial of Nigerian singer Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, faced a setback today at the Federal High Court in Lagos due to a pending request made to change the judge in charge of his case.
Justice Isaac Dipeolu, the trial judge, received information from the prosecutor, Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari about the development, resulting to the immediate halt of the trial.
The application seeks to enable the former judge to continue presiding over the defendant’s trial, pending approval by the Chief Judge of the court.
Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, accused Naira Marley of cybercrime, alleging offenses committed between November 2018 and May 2019.
The commission alleged that Fashola and his accomplices conspired to use different Access Bank ATM cards to defraud their victims.
It alleged that the defendant used a bank credit card issued to another person, in a bid to obtain fraudulent financial gains.
The EFCC also said that the defendant possessed counterfeit credit cards belonging to different people, with intent to defraud which amounted to theft.
However, despite earlier trial proceedings, the case’s transfer to a new judge and the unresolved fiat application led to an adjournment until May 30.
