The trial of Nigerian singer, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, continued on Thursday, November 30, 2023, as the 10th prosecution witness (PW10), Dein Whyte, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), provided insights into the case.
Naira Marley is facing 11-count charges bordering on conspiracy and credit card fraud brought against him by the EFCC.
Whyte, led by the prosecution counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, detailed how a forensic analysis of a device belonging to the singer revealed malicious programs used for the illegal acquisition of credit card information.
The investigator informed the court that these programs enabled fraudulent transactions and disguised the active location of an internet user when connected to the internet.
The analysis further disclosed tools used to verify the validity, active state, and accuracy of credit card credentials, along with the region of the issuer of the card. Whyte revealed that the defendant’s device contained details of credit cards that did not belong to him, and investigations showed that these details were exchanged with other individuals.
Under cross-examination by the defendant’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, Whyte explained that Visa, a card payment platform, flagged one of the credit card details due to fraudulent transactions.
He clarified that the investigation focused on the card and not the device itself, and although Visa confirmed the fraudulent use of the card, it did not directly link it to the defendant’s device.
The court, presided over by Justice Nicholas Oweibo, adjourned the case to March 6 and 7, 2024, for the continuation of the trial.
