Entertainment
Fraud Case: Visa Flagged Naira Marley’s Credit Card – Witness Testifies
In the ongoing trial of Nigerian singer Naira Marley, the 10th prosecution witness, Dein Whyte from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, disclosed to Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Lagos how Visa, a card payment platform, flagged fraudulent transactions associated with a credit card found on the singer’s device.
The agency shared this information in a statement on their Facebook page on Friday.
While being led by the prosecution counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, witness Whyte mentioned, As part of the findings from the investigation, forensic analysis revealed that malicious programmes used to illegally obtain credit card information were found on the device recovered from the defendant upon his arrest.”
The investigator noted that these programs enabled transactions without the physical presence of the card.
Additionally, they identified tools on the device that disguised the user’s location while connected to the internet.
Whyte further stated, “Tools 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 websites accessed on the defendant’s computer, including sites where credit card information is illegally traded.”
The witness shared that both the phone and laptop recovered from Naira Marley were registered under his credentials—his name and email address.
Investigative findings indicated that the singer had exchanged credit card details with other individuals, including one card reported for fraudulent usage by Visa.
Whyte emphasized that the card information found on the defendant’s device wasn’t his and wasn’t issued by any financial institution.
During cross-examination by the defendant’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, Whyte affirmed that a Visa investigation confirmed the card’s flagging due to fraudulent transactions.
However, Visa didn’t explicitly connect the credit card fraud to the defendant’s device, emphasizing that Visa operates as a payment platform, not a telecommunication company.
Justice Oweibo adjourned the case to March 6 and 7, 2024, for further trial proceedings.
It is worth noting that Naira Marley is confronted with an 11-count charge, which encompasses allegations of conspiracy and credit card fraud, filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Wizkid has expressed his delight with the Super Eagles’ preparation ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Rwanda in Kigali.
The team, now under the leadership of newly appointed head coach Eric Chelle, held its first training session on Tuesday afternoon as they gear up for the crucial encounter.
Reacting to the squad’s intensity in training, Wizkid took to his X handle on Wednesday to praise the new-look Super Eagles.
READ ALSO: WCQ: Osimhen, Others Arrive Super Eagles Camp Ahead Of Rwanda Clash
“New Super Eagles team! Love the energy,” he tweeted.
The Super Eagles will take on Rwanda at the Amahoro Stadium on Friday, March 21, with kickoff scheduled for 5 PM Nigerian time.
The team will then return to Nigeria to face Zimbabwe in Uyo on Tuesday.
With their World Cup hopes on the line, the Eagles will be aiming to secure maximum points from both fixtures to strengthen their chances of qualifying for the 2026 tournament.
A social media controversy has erupted after media strategist Esther Ijewere accused Nollywood actress Dayo Amusa of plagiarism.
Ijewere alleged that Amusa lifted her Facebook post about singer Asake and shared it on her own platforms without giving credit.
The original post, which Ijewere published on March 15 at 1:15 a.m., reflected on Asake’s childhood struggles, family issues, and the emotional impact of fame.
READ ALSO: Actress Dayo Amusa Drops New Music Video
Later that same day, Amusa reportedly posted the exact same words on her Facebook and Instagram pages, with no acknowledgment of the original author.
Seeing her words being circulated under Amusa’s name, Ijewere publicly called out the actress, demanding proper credit.
She wrote:”Dear Dayo Amusa, You took my post from my Facebook page and shared it as your own on Facebook and Instagram without giving me proper credit. Please, do the right thing and acknowledge my work. It’s important to respect and credit the original creator.”
Following the backlash, Amusa deleted the post from Facebook but left it up on Instagram, where it continued to generate reactions. By that time, several blogs had already attributed the words to Amusa, further frustrating Ijewere.
In response, Amusa dismissed the allegations, claiming she found the post on a friend’s WhatsApp status and did not know who originally wrote it.
She insisted that her #copied hashtag at the end of her post indicated she was not taking credit for the words.
Replying to Ijewere’s call-out, Amusa wrote: “E dey pain you say I no tag your name abi. Pele baby!!! Like I told you in your DM earlier, I don’t know you, let alone knowing you were the original writer. It was copied from a friend’s WhatsApp, and I even screenshot am for you to see.”
She also mocked the situation, adding: “How market? Enjoying the gbasgbos? Have fun and enjoy it while it lasts.”
The controversy has sparked mixed reactions online. Some social media users believe Amusa should have given proper credit to Ijewere, while others argue that using #copied was enough to indicate that she wasn’t claiming ownership of the words.
Nigerian music sensation Ahmed Ololade, popularly known as Asake, has reconciled with his father, Fatai Odunsi, after a public fallout.
The singer has now promised to purchase a new house for his father and take care of his medical expenses.
This development comes days after Odunsi alleged that Asake had abandoned him since his health took a downturn in 2022.
The elderly man, who has been battling a stroke, lamented that despite his son’s rise to fame and fortune, he had not received financial support.
READ ALSO: Asake Under Fire for Smashing Fan’s iPhone 16 Pro Max At Germany Concert
However, in a new video released on Sunday, Odunsi confirmed that Asake had reached out to him and their differences had been resolved. Speaking in Yoruba, he expressed pride in his son and showered him with prayers.
“His mother ought to ask him when last he saw me. That was what got me angry, but we have sorted all the problems. We are no longer fighting,” Odunsi said.
He further revealed that Asake had taken steps to fulfill his responsibilities as a son, including instructing real estate agents to find him a new home.
“Asake said he will do everything that I want. We have settled, no more problems. They are now looking for a new house that he will buy for me,” he added.
Additionally, Odunsi disclosed that Asake had pledged to take full responsibility for his 11-year-old daughter, Zeenat.
“He has never denied his child, but he has now promised to take full responsibility for the child,” he said.
Odunsi also mentioned that Asake had sent him money for his medical treatment, and he planned to visit the hospital the following day.
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