A Chief Magistrates’ court, sitting in Tinubu area of Lagos, on Tuesday gave the Nigerian music sensation, Azeez Fashola, popularly called Naira Marley, till January 14, 2020 to appear before it over alleged car theft.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Tajudeen Elias, while issuing the order said a bench warrant would be issued for Marley’s arrest if he failed to appear in court on the new date billed for his arraignment.
The judge made the order in the trial of three other defendants including two of Marley’s brothers.
The defendants – Idris Fashola (aged 18); Babatunde Fashola (aged 24); and Kunle Obere (aged 22) – are facing a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, assault and obstructing the arrest of Naira Marley.
The trio were initially arraigned on December 16, but Marley was absent in court that day.
It would be recalled that the Magistrate had earlier ordered the Investigative Police Office (IPO) to produce Marley in court today.
At the proceedings on Tuesday, Naira Marley again failed to appear in court, which made the Magistrate to order for his appearance in court on the next adjourned date billed for Tuesday, January 14, 2020.
It will be recalled that the police prosecutor, Edet Okoi, had earlier told court how the three defendants committed the offence on Dec. 15, at Eko Hotel Roundabout, in Victoria Island, Lagos.
He narrated that the trio who were in a motorcade with Naira Marley, stole a Toyota Camry vehicle with Registration No. FEE 120 AA valued at N1.8 million and an iPhone X5 worth N330,000 belonging to one Mr Adelekan Ademola.
He added that the three defendants and others at large assaulted the complainant by beating him up.
The police officer said the offences contravened Sections 112,172, 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The court, however, granted the three defendants N500,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.
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