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The police on Tuesday withdrew the car theft charges filed against hip-hop singer, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, his siblings, Idris and Babatunde Fashola and cousin, Kunle Obere.
The police had filed four-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, assault and obstruction the against them before the Lagos State Magistrates’ Court at Tinubu, Lagos Island.
While Idris, Babatunde, and Obere had been arraigned on December 16, 2019, the police have been unable to arraign Naira Marley in court.
At the December 31, 2019 hearing, the magistrate, Mr Tajudeen Elias, had threatened to issue a warrant of the arrest against the soapy crooner.
But after being persuaded by Naira Marley’s lawyer, Ayodeji Awokulehin, the magistrate further adjourned the case till January 14, 2020.
However, at the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the prosecution told the magistrate that the defendants and the complainant in the case, Mr Adenekan Ademola, had resolved to settle the matter out of court.
The magistrate was presented with the terms of settlement of the case, endorsed by both parties.
As a result, the magistrate struck out the charges against them.
At the last hearing, Naira Marley’s lawyer, Awokunlehin, had hinted that his client was exploring an out-of-court settlement with the complainant, who alleged that Naira Marley and others stole his Toyota Camry with Registration No. FEE 120 AA valued at N1.8m and an iPhone X5 worth N330,000.
The lawyer had expressed the hope that the matter would be settled before Tuesday’s hearing.
“The police have no problem with an out-of-court settlement; we hope that an agreement will be reached before the next adjourned date,” Awokulehin had said.
Police prosecutor, Edet Okoi, had told the court that the defendants committed the offence on December 15, at Eko Hotel Roundabout, Victoria Island, Lagos.