Musician Naira Marley, born Azeez Fashola, has publicly addressed lingering controversies surrounding the death of his former signee, Mohbad (Ilerioluwa Aloba), who passed away on September 12, 2023, at the age of 27.
In February 2025, a Magistrate’s Court in Yaba, Lagos acquitted Naira Marley, music promoter Sam Larry (Samson Balogun), Primeboy (Ibrahim Owodunni), and Mohbad’s former manager, Babatunde Opere, of any blame.
The Coroner’s Court in Ikorodu later ruled that the cause of death was linked to the negligence of auxiliary nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe, who administered an injection without a doctor’s prescription.
On Wednesday, Naira Marley released a video via YouTube, where he narrated events leading up to Mohbad’s exit from Marlian Music and addressed accusations that followed the singer’s passing.
According to him, Mohbad began using substances as early as 2020, but he claimed to have intervened with advice and support. He also explained that financial arrangements at the label were transparent and structured on a 50-50 basis, while Mohbad independently chose his own manager.
The Marlian boss further recounted the 2022 NDLEA raid, Mohbad’s public panic attack, and his subsequent online accusations. He alleged that despite these tensions, he funded Mohbad’s medical checks and medications, and also revealed that the singer attempted suicide in March 2022.
Naira Marley denied ever threatening or sending anyone to bully Mohbad, insisting their relationship deteriorated after a financial dispute involving royalties. He also stressed that he was in Amsterdam on the day of Mohbad’s death and had no hand in it.
He criticised the police for detaining him for two months, despite being cleared by the courts, and said Marlian Music was now ready to transfer all of Mohbad’s royalties to his family through their legal representatives.
