Musician Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, has publicly addressed the controversy surrounding the death of his former signee, Mohbad (Ilerioluwa Aloba).
His explanation comes nearly two years after Mohbad’s death.
In a video released on YouTube on Wednesday, the 34-year-old shared his side of the story, firmly denying any involvement in Mohbad’s death.
He also responded to the wave of allegations that followed the singer’s death on September 12, 2023.
Naira Marley spoke extensively about their personal and professional relationship, stating that he discovered in June 2020 that Mohbad was battling substance abuse. Naira said Mohbad admitted to using a drug known as “Ice” due to stress.
“I wasn’t angry. I advised him on the dangers. He said he would stop,” Naira said.
Addressing claims that Mohbad was under an exploitative contract, Naira stated that the late artiste independently chose his manager and operated under a 50-50 revenue-sharing model. Naira noted that Marlian Music covered all expenses, while earnings were split equally, an arrangement he described as uncommon in the industry.
The video also touched on the controversial NDLEA raid on the Marlian residence in February 2022, during which Mohbad was arrested along with others. Marley said he was abroad at the time and explained that Mohbad, after his release, went on Instagram Live while distressed, making accusations “fueled by panic and emotional instability.”
Naira said Mohbad and his family later apologised and that efforts were made to support the singer’s mental health, including during a reported suicide attempt in March 2022.
Tensions reportedly escalated after Mohbad had a physical altercation with his manager. Naira said that following this, a series of social media posts emerged in which Mohbad accused the label of threatening his life. Naira suggested that the posts may have been fabricated by someone else using the singer’s phone.
“Boom, on Twitter everybody just switched and started saying that Naira Marley, finally, you have killed him. They started posting videos of the NDLEA issue, his fight with the ex-manager,” Naira recalled.
In October 2022, Mohbad’s legal team formally notified Marlian Music of his intention to exit the label. Naira claimed that in December 2022, Mohbad withdrew $72,000 from a shared streaming platform account, funds which, according to him, were not entirely his. Naira said this prompted the temporary withholding of the singer’s royalties.
He stated that the last time he saw Mohbad was on October 4, 2022 and maintained that he was in Amsterdam when the singer died. Naira returned to Nigeria following the public backlash but was subsequently detained for two months at Panti, Yaba.
“We were in Amsterdam, in a restaurant, waiting for our food when someone just said Mohbad had died,” Naira said.
The singer expressed concern that more scrutiny was not directed at those who were with Mohbad in the final hours before his death.
In February 2024, a Magistrate’s Court in Yaba cleared Marley, Sam Larry (Samson Balogun), Primeboy (Ibrahim Owodunni), and Mohbad’s former manager, Babatunde Opere, of any criminal liability. The court instead held auxiliary nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe responsible for professional negligence after she administered medication without a doctor’s prescription.
He concluded by stating that Marlian Music is ready to release all pending royalties to Mohbad’s family or whomever the courts designate as the rightful beneficiary.
