A Nigerian Federal High Court in Lagos, Nigeria, has issued a production warrant against Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley.
Marley is currently being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Nigeria, on 11-count charges bordering on conspiracy and credit card fraud.
At the resumed sitting on Friday, October 5, 2023, counsel to the defendant (Naira Marley), Olalekan Ojo SAN, informed the court that the defendant was unavoidably absent from court owing to his being detained by the Police for interrogation in respect of the murder of Afrobeats youngster Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, known professionally as MohBad.
Lawyer Ojo, prayed the court for an adjournment of the trial but in response, prosecution counsel, Bilkisu Buhari, however, prayed the court to issue a production warrant against the defendant to ensure his presence in court on the next adjourned date.
The court presided over by Justice Nicholas Oweibo granted the request of the prosecution counsel and issued a production warrant against the defendant. The case was adjourned to October 30, 2023.
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Afrobeats+ earlier reported that Naira Marley had been picked up by law enforcement authorities in Nigeria over the death of MohBad.
The Marlian Music record label CEO was detained to assist in investigating the death of MohBad, another Afrobeats singer from Nigeria and a former signee of the label.
The Soapy hitmaker had previously announced that he was turning himself in on Tuesday, October 3, after returning from a trip abroad. The Nigerian Police confirmed Marley’s arrest. Police spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin on Tuesday said that Marley had been taken into custody “for interrogation and other investigation activities”.
Naira Marley’s Connection to MohBad’s Death
MohBad, was one of the rising stars on the Nigerian music scene. He passed away in a hospital in Nigeria’s commercial capital of Lagos last month. The cause of his death is still not clear.
Aged 27, the mysterious circumstances of MohBad’s death, including a hurried burial just a day after he passed on, sparked outrage online. Some pointed fingers at Naira Marley.
Before his death, MohBad had been embroiled in a feud with Marley and his Marlian Records crew as the deceased sought to part ways with the label to pursue his career elsewhere.