In the trial of controversial Nigerian singer, Azeez Adesina Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, the 10th prosecution witness (Pw10), Dein Whyte, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), informed Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, about how Visa flagged one of the credit card details on the singer’s device due to fraudulent transactions.
This was made known in a statement shared by the agency on their X account on Friday.
Naira Marley is facing trial on 11-count charges related to conspiracy and credit card fraud, filed by the EFCC. During the proceedings, led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, the PW10 said: “As part of the findings from the investigation, forensic analysis revealed that malicious programmes that are being used to illegally obtain credit card information, which can be used for card non-present transactions, were found on the device that was recovered from the defendant upon his arrest. Also revealed were malicious tools used to disguise the active location of an internet user when his or her devices are connected to the internet.”
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Whyte also disclosed that, “Tools that are used to verify the validity, active state and accuracy of credit card credentials, as well as the region of the issuer of that card were discovered on the defendant’s device. The analysis further revealed the website that had been accessed on the computer of the defendant through his browser history. The websites include sites where credit card information are illegally traded.”
He elaborated that the phone and laptop retrieved from the defendant were registered under his credentials, including name and email address. In response to the prosecution counsel’s inquiry about his findings on the credit card details, Whyte stated, “With respect to the card details recovered from the device of the defendant, investigations revealed that he also exchanged those details with other persons.”
Justice Oweibo adjourned the case to March 6 and 7, 2024, for the continuation of the trial.
This development follows the recent release of the singer from police custody, accompanied by Samuel Eletu Balogun, also known as Sam Larry. The release is linked to the investigation into the death of Nigerian singer, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.
