By Akinwale Kasali
Fast rising Hip Hop artiste, Adeyemi Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, has opted for an out of court settlement over an alleged car theft he and three others were involved in a some weeks ago.
Following the alleged car theft for which he was dragged to court by the police, the music star is negotiating an out-of-court settlement.
Naira Marley’s lawyer and the lawyer representing the complainant in the case, Mr Adelekan Ademola, are at an advanced stage of negotiation, but are still yet to reach a compromise.
If both parties reach an agreement, the charges against the four defendants may be dropped at the next hearing of the case on January 14, 2020.
Marley’s two brothers Idris Fashola, 18; Babatunde Fashola, 24; and their cousin, Kunle Obere, 22, are facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, assault and obstructing the police from arresting Marley, after, allegedly, illegally taking possession of Ademola’s car in Lagos, anfabandoning after use.
They were arraigned by the Police on December 16, before Chief Magistrate Tajudeen Elias of a Tinubu Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, but Marley, the fourth defendant, was granted bail on self recognition, while the Court granted the other three 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 to take his plea.
Following his failure to honour the court date and pleas for another chance by his counsel, Mr Awokulehin Ayodeji, Mr Elias threatened to order the artiste’s arrest if he fails to show up on the next adjourned date of January 14.
Ayodeji confirmed the settlement talks.
“We hope that an agreement will be reached before the next adjourned date,” he said.
According to the lawyer, the Police were not against a peaceful resolution of the matter. “The police have no problem with an out of court settlement”, he said.
At their arraignment on December 16, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Edet Okoi, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on December 15, at Eko Hotel Roundabout, Victoria Island, Lagos.
