Popular singer Azeez Fashola, widely known as Naira Marley, has publicly shared his account of events surrounding the death of his former signee, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, popularly called Mohbad.
In a two-hour documentary released on Wednesday, Marley addressed long-standing allegations linking him to Mohbad’s tragic death, insisting that he neither bullied nor harmed the late artiste. Mohbad, best known for hits such as Ask About Me and KPK, died on September 12, 2023, at the age of 27.
Earlier this year, a Magistrate’s Court in Yaba, Lagos, cleared Marley, music promoter Samson Balogun (Sam Larry), Ibrahim Owodunni (Primeboy), and Mohbad’s former manager, Babatunde Opere, of any blame in the matter. The Coroner’s Court in Ikorodu later ruled that Mohbad’s death was not a homicide, but faulted auxiliary nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe for gross negligence in administering injections without a doctor’s prescription.
In the new video, Marley recounted his time with Mohbad at Marlian Music, claiming he first discovered in 2020 that Mohbad was using a hard drug known as “Ice.” According to him, he tried to dissuade the singer, offering advice rather than punishment.
He also explained that Mohbad personally chose his manager in July 2020 and that their financial dealings were transparent, structured on a 50-50 revenue split. Marley dismissed claims that Mohbad avoided hospitals, citing chats that showed the late singer sought medical attention when necessary.
Recalling the February 2022 raid on the Marlian house by NDLEA operatives, Marley said Mohbad’s altercation with the officers led to his arrest. Shortly after his release, Mohbad went live on Instagram, accusing Marlian Music of endangering his life. Marley said the outburst was made under duress during a panic attack.
He further alleged that Mohbad attempted suicide in March 2022 and that efforts were made to secure medical and psychological help for him. However, disagreements persisted, particularly after Mohbad accused Marley of threatening him when he attempted to part ways with his manager.
Marley said Mohbad’s lawyers officially wrote to Marlian Music in October 2022, indicating his desire to terminate his contract. According to Marley, financial disputes followed, including Mohbad’s alleged withdrawal of $72,000 from a streaming partner account.
The artiste noted that the last time he saw Mohbad was during an altercation between the late singer and his manager on October 4, 2022. He maintained that he was in Amsterdam on the day Mohbad died and described attempts to link him to the tragedy as false.
Marley criticised the police for detaining him for two months in Lagos after he voluntarily returned to clear his name, insisting that all royalties from Mohbad’s time at Marlian Music remain intact for his family to claim through their appointed representatives.
He also stated that Sam Larry had assured him he played no role in Mohbad’s death, a position Marley said he believed.
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