Popular musician Azeez Fashola, also known as Naira Marley, has opened up on the controversies surrounding the death of his former signee, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly called Mohbad, insisting that he neither bullied him nor played any role in his death.
In a two-hour documentary released on Wednesday, the Marlian Music boss narrated his relationship with the late singer, how their business dealings unfolded, and the events that strained their ties. He recalled that in June 2020, he discovered Mohbad was using a hard substance known as “Ice.” According to him, Mohbad admitted he started using it due to stress, but he advised him against it rather than react with anger. “I know the damage it has done to people I know from the UK. I told him the danger. I didn’t force him to do anything,” he said.
Naira Marley also spoke about their financial arrangement, saying his dealings with Mohbad were transparent, with a 50-50 split on revenue. He claimed Mohbad personally chose his manager and had agreed on a 10 per cent fee, contrary to rumours of exploitation. He dismissed suggestions that the late singer was afraid of hospitals, citing messages that showed Mohbad visited health facilities when necessary.
The Marlian Music founder revisited the 2022 incident when NDLEA officers raided his residence. Although he was abroad at the time, Mohbad was taken into custody alongside others and later went live on Instagram, accusing the label and its members of threatening his life. Naira Marley said those allegations were made while Mohbad was having a panic attack and were later withdrawn. He added that Mohbad, his parents and his girlfriend apologised after the episode.
According to him, Mohbad’s struggles deepened after that incident. He claimed the singer once attempted suicide in March 2022, and he tried to get him help by paying for health checks and medication. On October 7, 2022, Mohbad’s lawyer informed Marlian Music of his desire to leave the label. Naira Marley alleged that not long after, Mohbad withdrew $72,000 from a digital streaming partner without remitting the funds, which led the label to withhold part of his royalties. He said that was the last time he had direct communication with him.
On the day of Mohbad’s death in September 2023, Naira Marley maintained that he was in Amsterdam, stressing that he could not have been involved. “I’ve never sent anybody to bully him,” he said, insisting that those who were with the singer in the final 48 hours should have been the focus of investigations. He also criticised the police for detaining him for two months in Lagos after he returned to clear his name.
The artiste added that all royalties from Mohbad’s music under Marlian Music remain untouched and can be collected by his family through their lawyer. He also said Sam Larry, accused alongside him, explained his own innocence in the matter and he believed him.
While a Magistrate’s Court in Yaba earlier cleared Naira Marley, Sam Larry, and others of involvement in Mohbad’s death, a Coroner’s Court in Ikorodu ruled that the auxiliary nurse who administered an injection to Mohbad acted with gross negligence, describing her actions as “unlawful and professionally negligent.”
