Court orders arrest, arraignment of Naira Marley over alleged car theft

A Tinubu Chief Magistrate Court in Lagos has ordered the police to arrest and bring for immediate arraignment musician, Afeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, over an alleged car theft.

According to a report by NAN, Naira Marley alongside two of his brothers and one of his cousins, Idris Fashola, 18, Babatunde Fashola, 24; and Kunle Obere, 22, were dragged before the court by the police on four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing, assault and obstructing the arrest of Naira Marley.

NAN reports that the prosecutor, ASP Edet Okoi, told the court that the three defendants committed the offences on December 16th at Eko Hotel Roundabout on Victoria Island, Lagos. Okoi said the trio who were in a motorcade with Naira Marley, allegedly 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.

Okoi alleged that the second defendant, Babatunde Fashola and others at large obstructed the police while performing their lawful duty and prevented them from arresting Naira Marley.

“One of the vehicles in the musician’s motorcade hit the complainant’s vehicle from the back while he was throwing out money from his vehicle to his fans. When the complainant came down from the vehicle to inspect the damage, Obere entered into the complainant’s Camry and drove it off with the motorcade. Ademola reported to the police and the vehicle was tracked to where it was parked at Jakande Crescent, Oniru in Lagos.

“When the police arrived at the location in company with the complainant, Naira Marley and his boys started beating the complainant. A group of boys obstructed the police from arresting the musician but they were able to apprehend the three defendants,” Okoi told the court

He said that the offences contravened Sections 112, 172, 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The Magistrate, Mr Tajudeen Elias, ordered the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Sgt. Sunday Idoko, handling the case to present Naira Marley before the court on December 21st when the case would be listed for further hearing.

The two brothers of Naira Marley and his cousin appeared in court and were granted N500,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.