Embattled Nigerian rapper, Naira Marley’s has been making headlines since he was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, May 10.
The anti-graft agency filed 11-count charges bordering on fraud and cybercrime against the ‘Am I A Yahoo Boy’ crooner and was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos on May 20.
The Justice Nicholas Oweibo-led Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, adjourned the case to today, May 30 and ordered that hip-hop musician, Azeez Fashola, a.k.a Naira Marley, be remanded in prison custody after he pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Following the court’s session last week, there’ve been different reactions from the singer’s fans, commentators and also, from the streets of social media.
Within Nigeria brings you some of the highlights since the last arraignment as the world anticipate the outcome of the case from court today.
‘Naira Marley is paying for his stupidity’ – Social media user
An unperturbed social media user on facebook identified as Ameh Joe Lucazzy rebuked Naira Marley, the news surfaced online after the singer’s first arraignment before the court of law.
Lucazzy wrote on facebook that Naira Marley was ‘exhibiting diarrhea of the mouth’, but his fans who supported his ‘stupidity’ have left him to face the consequences of his social media outpour and open support for fraud.
He wrote:
“When Naira Marley was exhibiting diarrhoea of the mouth, they were busy hailing him. He has put himself in EFCC wahala now, dem don leave am make e cry alone
“You see this life ehn, they’ll see you nearing transformer with iron pole and be encouraging you to continue. Once you touch the transformer with the ayon and get shocked, you will die alone.
“I don’t pity the guy. He is paying for his own stupidity. You dey do illegal still dey loud am like say na fundamental human right. Go and face your court case. You see that goal that you have been shouting since, you’ll score it in gaol. Na that goal wan kee you so.”
Daddy Showkey lambastes EFCC
Legendary Galala singer, Daddy Showkey was unimpressed by how armed security forces guarded Naira Marley to the court session and after, he expressed his annoyance in a video he shared on instagram, asking the anti-graft agency to go after politicians stealing Nigeria’s money instead.
“This boy is a small boy, all of us know what we did while we were young. One day, your own will come. Don’t think because you are in power now, you will be using your position anyhow,” he said in the video.
Bobrisky prays for Naira Marley
Shortly before Naira Marley’s was arraigned last week, Africa’s male Barbie, Bobrisky dished out a quick and short prayer for the rapper. The controversial (fe)male social media sensation also defended the ‘Japa’ crooner from a fan who pointed out that justice and not prayer wasn’t needed.
Tiwa Savage’s ex-husband, TeeBillz throws support for Naira Marley
Music executive TeeBillz bared his mind on the fraud case of Naira Marley, filed by the EFCC after he appeared before the court on May 20. He pointed out that people make mistakes and young guys don’t know as much as the elderly ones (referring to Ruggedman) who should caution them properly without making them vulnerable.
In his words, “may the grace of God be sufficient for the needs of this talented young man during his trials. We all make mistakes and my personal take is that most of this young guys don’t know better and I feel it’s our obligation as the older ones to put them right instead of just calling them out on social media for unnecessary validation!
“OG Rugged Man I hope you can do that shit privately next time sir! I know you don’t want that smoke with me bro if you take my message the other way bros.”
Man vows to kill police officer Dolapo Badmus and Ruggedman; PPRO responds
A loyal fan of Naira Marley, identified as Stove on Instagram vents his anger on the social media platform, and promised to kill Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Dolapo Badmus and stern critic of Naira Marley’s comment on fraud, Ruggedman.
The fan in his post shared online, said if Naira Marley is sentenced to jail, he’d not hesitate to kill the police officer and Ruggedman. He also vowed to go through whatever it will take him to achieve his aim.
His declaration read in part; “I will keep tracing both of you anywhere in public. During any shows or owambe, I will open fire and stand.
“Mark my words. It may take me days, weeks, months or years, but one special day, I will fulfill my mission.”
As expected of a Police officer, Dolapo responded to the fan’s threat, asking him to pay him a visit if he truly meant what he said. “Really? He must be a noise maker seeking attention. He knows my office address let him show!” the PPRO said.
Kemi Olunloyo attacks Rugedman
Ruggedman has severally denied speculations that he was behind Naira Marley’s arrest, but controversial journalist, Kemi Olunloyo claimed she has proof that the rapper snitched on the upcoming singer.
“#BREAKING @ruggedybaba #Ruggedman pls come clean on snitching out @nairamarley on an assumed name to the @officialefcc. We Investigative Journalists also have “snitches” we call sources inside the antigraft agency. We need transparency in this investigation as the petitioner must stand trial too,” she shared on instagram.
In 2014, Naira Marley was wanted in the UK
A report by a foreign news outlet identified as News Shopper, surfaced two days after Naira Marley was arraigned, revealing that the Nigerian music act was listed among some of the most wanted faces for crimes in the UK by the Lewisham police, way back in 2014.
Marley, who was 19 at the time, was particularly wanted by the police in connection to a crime incident in Surrey Canal Road, New Cross, on March 5.
Man shares account number for people to raise ₦10m for Naira Marley’s bail
A staunch supporter of Naira Marley called on members of the internet community to raise the sum of N10 million for his bail. He shared an account number on twitter, persuading his fans to join forces together to free the rapper.
Lets support naira marleys bail with 10million naira
Let it be paid into this account
3040728313
First bankTogether we can .#FreeNairaMarley pic.twitter.com/TlhZRNeN0f
— BIG MOVES (@Officialboss13) May 20, 2019
Naira Marley must face the consequence if found guilty- Foluke Daramola
Nollywood Actress Foluke Daramola, like many others on social media, passionately condemned internet fraud while reacting to EFCC’s arraignment of Naira Marley.
In a video shared on instagram, the chubby screen diva said, two wrongs don’t make a right while advising Nigerians to be the true change they want the country to be. She also explained that EFCC isn’t victimizing the singer, adding that if Naira Marley has done something wrong, he should face the consequences.
Zlatan Ibile maintains optimism, reiterates his support for Naira Marley
Since Zlatan Ibile regained his freedom from EFCC, he didn’t for once turn his back against Naira Marley. Zlatan held that Marley’s current struggle with the anti-corruption agency is only temporal. As a strong fan of Marley’s music, he made it known that he believes the ‘Issa Goal’ singer will be released and his music will sell more.
According to him; “People can hate and judge ! But can never change GOD’s plan concerning ones LIFE !!! If our creator should act with how powerful he his !! Non of us will be alive !! Despite our iniquities!
“Life for easy if to say he come with manual !! Nai am out here representing the street! Till whenever. I love you not because you my friend alone but because I was A MARLIAN BEFORE I STARTED MUSIC.”
After brawl with Naira Marley, Simi said she’s not happy about his arrest
Prior to Naira Marley’s arrest, Simi said Yahoo boys should stop buying his music on live video because they are the reason foreigners don’t trust Nigerians. She said, “they are laughing at us. They are laughing at us. I am repeating it because I have seen it. Do you know how many Nigerians going to business meetings or just to get the smallest opportunity for themselves to make it and they leave with nothing because they are Nigerian, that’s the only excuse they get. Sorry, we can not work with Nigerians.
“Common guys, you don’t have to like me, you don’t have to listen to my music, you don’t have to send me, but you see, I am not the enemy. I can easily sit down and pretend that nothing is wrong and just make money, smile, cheers blah blah, but the thing is, I care too much, if I didn’t give a sh*t, I wouldn’t say anything. I’ve had friends that have done Yahoo. I’ve had friends that have thought about it.”
The Nigerian songstress, Simi had a scuffle with Naira Marley over fraud, they event took their beef public when the ‘Jamb Question’ singer reportedly snubbed him at an even, but she later said she didn’t see the rapper.
However, when asked about Naira Marley’s arrest in a question and answer session on instagram, she simply replied ‘No’.
Falz speaks on Naira Marley’s fraud case with EFCC
Falz, when questioned to bare his mind about Naira Marley’s case, he chose to reflect on it from a wider angle, generalizing the cybercrime discussion without limiting it to the embattled ‘Issa Goal’ rapper alone.
“I have always said and perhaps I was the first person to even get backlash for this. I have never been a fan of celebrating cybercrime. But I will say it again. Cybercrime is wrong, it is giving us a terrible name especially outside Nigeria. Cybercrime is destroying our youths and I understand the sentiment of people not being privileged, feeling that they don’t have opportunities but what about people that are out there, actually putting in an effort, working and toiling day and night through legitimate means and not just taking from someone else,” Falz said.
He continued; “You may be thinking that the person falls for it…I believe that you should live your life and let others live their life as long as yours do not affect others, then you can do whatever you like. But when you are taking from someone else, it’s an offence and a crime against humanity. It is bad. I never subscribe to that, and will never be.”
‘I have two wives and four children’– Naira Marley speaks from prison
In an exclusive statement obtained by Punch, Naira Marley revealed he has two wives and four kids who are British citizens staying in the UK.
“My name is Azeez Fashola. I am married to two wives and I have four kids. They are all British citizens staying in the United Kingdom. I studied in the United Kingdom, started studying at Porlock Hall, then I moved to Walworth School where I received my GCSE.
“My results for my GCSE are English (C), Maths (B) and Science (C). “I left Walworth School with my qualification and went further to study at Peckham Academy, where I got distinction in Business. Then, I went further to study at Crossways College where I finished my Business Law; but I had kids at that time, so I took a break and started making music till date.”
According to Azeez, he is not a criminal and has no idea what the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission found on his laptop. Naira Marley, 28, said apart from storing his songs and music videos, he had never done anything illegal with his laptop.
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