A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday granted bail in the sum of two million naira and two sureties to a musician, Azeez Fashola (a.k.a Naira Marley), facing cybercrime charges.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on May 20, brought the musician before Justice Nicholas Oweibo on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, possession of counterfeit credit cards and fraud.
On Thursday, his lawyer, Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN), prayed the court to grant the musician bail on liberal terms.
Ojo argued that as a celebrity, the defendant would not jump bail.
Citing relevant statutory authorities as well as decision of the Supreme Court, Ojo urged the court to grant bail to the musician in its discretion as allowed by the law.
He noted that the law provided for a prison term of not more than seven years for the offense, adding that the law provided that the defendant would be entitled to bail.
The EFCC plea to the judge not to grant his bail was not favorably accepted to the judge who claims the defendant lawyer couldn’t give substantial reason why the accused should not be granted bail. The judge ruled that the reasons adduced by prosecution were not strong enough to warrant denial of bail to the defendant.
He ordered that one of the sureties must be a civil servant of grade level 10 and above or an owner of a landed property within the court’s jurisdiction.
He adjourned the case until Oct. 22, for trial.