Car Theft Case Against Naira Marley Settled Out Of Court
Written by Smooth FM on January 15, 2020
A Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Tuesday dismissed a car theft charge filed by the police against hip hop artist, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, his two brothers and cousin.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Tajudeen Elias, dismissed the charges after receiving a letter from the police disclosing their intention to withdraw the case.
Marley, his two brothers: Idris, 18; Babatund, 24; and cousin, Kunle Obere, 22, were charged with four counts of of conspiracy, theft, assault and obstructing the police.
They were arraigned by the Police on Dec. 16, 2019 but Marley, the fourth defendant, was absent. The court granted the trio N500,000 bail each with two sureties in the like sum.
Chief Magistrate Elias ordered the Investigative Police Officer (IPO) to produce Marley in court on December 31, 2019 so he could take his plea.
Following his failure to honour the court date and pleas for another chance by his counsel, Mr Awokulehin Ayodeji, the court threatened to order the artiste’s arrest if he didn’t show up in court today (January 14).
At the commencement of proceedings, only Marley’s brothers and cousin were present. The prosecutor ASP Edet Okoi told the court that Marley and the three other defendants had reached an out of court settlement with the complainant, Mr Adelekan Ademola.
Okoi tendered a letter bearing the agreement to Magistrate Elias.
The defendants’ counsel, Ayodeji confirmed that a deal had been reached.
Chief Magistrate Elias also confirmed the agreement from Mr Ademola, and who was present. He said: “In view of the letter of withdrawal, the defendants are hereby discharged.”
Afterwards, Marley’s lawyer told The News Agency of Nigeria why Marley was absent.
Awokuleyin said: “As we speak, he is not even in the country. He is abroad for medicals. But the most important thing is that the charge has been withdrawn and consequentially, the matter is dead.”
The lawyer declined to state the terms of the agreement.
Awokuleyin said: “We reached a resolution and parties were able to settle the matter. As we speak, the matter has been discharged from court and the charge has been dropped. The terms are confidential.”
The complainant in the case, Ademola revealed that his car had been repaired and the items taken from him returned by the defendant
