Following the arrest and parade of singers, Naira Marley and
Zlatan Ibile, among others yesterday by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC), a number of Nigerian musicians have come out in support of
the two artistes Naira Marley, whose real name is Afeez Fashola, and Omoniyi
Temidayo, better known as Zlatan Ibile, were arrested by the anti-graft agency
over two weeks after Naira Marley seemingly endorsed internet fraud widely
known as Yahoo Yahoo.
The artiste had said internet fraudsters (Yahoo boys) boost
Nigeria’s economy through their activities, describing internet fraud as a form
of avenging the transatlantic slave trade visited on Africa and some parts of
the world in the past. In the Instagram live video, Naira Marley added that the
political class had looted the country, stressing that but for “Yahoo Boys”
whose money stay in circulation in Nigeria that the nation’s economy would have
long collapsed.
“All you guys, all the money in your pockets, all the money
you spend, you think it’s the government that is making the money go round?” he
asked, adding: “You better sit down and pray for yahoo boys. If them stop
yahoo, the money would not pass you guys.” So daring was the artiste that he
even mentioned the names of some Nigerian political leaders, saying: “The money
will go like this, from Obasanjo to Tinubu, from Tinubu to Mr. Japa, you think
me I need Yahoo?
I make money from my music,” he said.
However, he didn’t create the live video in a vacuum; it all
began when Nigerian female singer, Simi, publicly slammed Yahoo boys and urged
them not to patronise her music, causing a frenzy on Twitter as many voted for
or against internet fraudsters. Another controversial singer, Dammy Krane, who
was acquitted of charges relating to credit card fraud in the United States in
2017, also described Yahoo boys as “promoters and influencers of Nigerian
music” in a now deleted Instagram post.
And just days after the raging controversy, Naira Marley
teamed up with Zlatan Ibile to release a single titled: “Am I a yahoo boy?”
Responding to the arrest in a statement yesterday, EFCC said Naira Marley,
Zlatan Ibile, along with Tiamiu Abdulrahman Kayode, Adewunmi Adeyanju Moses and
Abubakar Musa, were picked up due to intelligence reports linking them to cybercrime
offences.
“Their arrest followed an early morning raid on Friday, May
10, 2019 at 9, Gbangbola Street, Ikate, Lekki, Lagos. “At the point of arrest,
the Commission found and recovered a number of items, including laptops, from
the suspects.
“They have so far volunteered useful information about their
involvement in the alleged criminal activities, even as investigations
continue,” the Commission stated. Following the arrest of Naira Marley, best
known for hit songs like “Is a goal” and “Japa” among others and Zlatan Ibile,
popular for “Zanku” and featuring in Chinko Ekun’s monster hit, “Able God”
along with Lil Kesh, top music stars like Burna Boy, Davido, and Olamide have
taken to social media to show their support for the artistes.
Davido, who also received a backlash online after supporting
Naira Marley during his comment on Yahoo boys, uploaded a picture of the
artiste with the caption: “MARLIAN!! Freee bro!!!! Nothing spoil!! I got u!!!”
On his own, Olamide, who also posted a picture of the singer
on Instagram, showed his support by urging Naira Marley fans to stay positive.
“Stay positive, Marlians,” he wrote along with emojis of
prayerful hands and love. Apparently perturbed by the news of the arrest, Burna
Boy wrote: “I hear @nairamarley has been arrested by the EFCC. Really? REALLY?!
This better be a RUMOR!
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Make them free this Naira Marley Jaree.
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