By Milcah Tanimu

In the ongoing trial of Nigerian singer Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, the 10th prosecution witness, Dein Whyte, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), detailed how Visa, a card payment platform, detected fraudulent transactions associated with one of the credit card details found on the singer’s device. The revelation was made during the trial before Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Whyte, led by the prosecution counsel Bilikisu Buhari, explained that forensic analysis revealed malicious programs on the device used for illegally obtaining credit card information, facilitating card non-present transactions. The investigator identified tools on the device that disguised the user’s active location when connected to the internet.

During cross-examination by the defendant’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, Whyte confirmed that a Visa investigation flagged the card for fraudulent transactions. However, he clarified that Visa did not directly link the credit card fraud to the defendant’s device, emphasizing that Visa is a payment platform, not a telecommunication company.

The trial is set to continue on March 6 and 7, 2024. Naira Marley faces an 11-count charge, including conspiracy and credit card fraud, brought against him by the EFCC.