Naira Marley has spoken out on Mohbad’s death and shared his side of the story.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Nigerian musician Naira Marley (Azeez Fashola) has broken his silence, releasing a detailed video account addressing the controversies surrounding the death of his former signee, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.
This Nigeria news platform recalls that Mohbad died on September 12, 2023, at just 27 years old, sparking nationwide outrage and speculation.
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Earlier in February 2024, a Magistrate’s Court in Yaba, Lagos, cleared Naira Marley, music promoter Sam Larry (Samson Balogun), Primeboy (Ibrahim Owodunni), and Mohbad’s former manager, Babatunde Opere, of any involvement in the singer’s death.
However, in July, the Coroner’s Court in Ikorodu found that auxiliary nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe, who treated Mohbad shortly before his death, acted with gross negligence by administering an injection without a doctor’s prescription. The court ruled out foul play or homicide but described her actions as both “unlawful and professionally negligent.”
Marley’s Side of the Story
Months after his acquittal, Naira Marley took to YouTube to share his perspective.
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He claimed he first discovered in 2020 that Mohbad was using a substance known as Ice. Rather than punish him, Marley said he advised Mohbad against drug use and tried to provide support.
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Marley stated that Mohbad chose his own manager, agreeing on payment terms independently.
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He also debunked rumours that Mohbad avoided hospitals, citing WhatsApp chats from 2020 showing hospital visits.
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On finances, Marley maintained that Marlian Music ran a transparent 50-50 revenue split, with accountants managing payments.
The NDLEA Incident & Fallout
Marley also addressed the infamous NDLEA raid of February 2022, during which Mohbad was detained alongside Zinoleesky. He claimed Mohbad went live on Instagram under duress and made accusations against him and others while experiencing a panic attack.
Following the incident:
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Mohbad and his family reportedly apologised for the accusations.
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Marley said he paid for Mohbad’s medical checks and medications.
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He alleged Mohbad once attempted suicide in March 2022, prompting family discussions about his mental health.
Legal Dispute & Financial Rift
By October 2022, Mohbad expressed his intention to leave Marlian Music through his lawyer. Marley claimed:
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Mohbad withdrew $72,000 from a digital streaming partner without approval.
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Royalties were withheld until repayment.
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After the incident, communication with Mohbad and his lawyers broke down.
Marley said the last time he saw Mohbad was on October 4, 2022, after a fight with his manager.
Denial of Involvement in Mohbad’s Death
Reiterating his innocence, Marley said he was in Amsterdam at the time of Mohbad’s death. He insisted:
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Those who were with Mohbad in the 24–48 hours before his death should face more scrutiny.
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He had never sent anyone to harass or bully Mohbad.
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Sam Larry also denied involvement, and Marley said he believed him.
He criticised the police for detaining him for two months at Panti, Yaba, despite his voluntary return to Nigeria to clear his name.
Royalties for Mohbad’s Family
Marley concluded that Marlian Music is ready to hand over Mohbad’s royalties to his family, once directed by either the family or the courts.
