Naira Marley denies role in Mohbad’s passing as Coroner calls for further investigation

The unexpected d£ath of Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, continues to captivate the nation as a coroner’s inquest seeks to unravel the circumstances surrounding his untimely passing.

Recently, Nigerian artist Naira Marley testified before the Magistrate Court in Ikorodu, shedding light on his interactions with the late Mohbad and distancing himself from any involvement in his d£ath.

Naira Marley, the head of Marlian Records, was called to testify about his relationship with Mohbad, who was signed to the label before his tragic demise.

Marley appeared virtually on Friday, offering a detailed account of their dealings, and reaffirmed that he had no role in Mohbad’s death. The singer clarified that when he signed Mohbad to Marlian Records, the plan was to produce four albums.

However, constant disagreements between Mohbad and his manager, Opere Babatunde, meant that none of the albums were completed before Mohbad left the label.

During the hearing, Marley firmly denied all allegations of molestation or threats made against Mohbad, referencing a police report that cleared him of any wrongdoing. 

According to Marley, any claims of mistreatment were mere figments of imagination, adding that the viral video where Mohbad appeared to implicate Marley and his crew was made under the influence of drugs.

Marley explained that after the video’s release, Mohbad and his parents issued an apology.

Further questions raised concerns about the alleged disputes between Marley and Mohbad, particularly regarding Mohbad’s royalties.

However, Marley insisted that there were no unresolved conf!icts, denying that their professional relationship was strained. He also stated that the last time he saw Mohbad was over a year before his d£ath, and he was not in Nigeria at the time.

However, the late Mohbad’s lawyer, Oluwasanmi Falade, presented a different narrative, claiming that there were indeed financial disputes over royalties.

According to Falade, Mohbad had repeatedly reached out to Marlian Records, but his requests were ignored, and the matter had escalated to litigation in the Federal High Court.

Falade also testified that Mohbad had been attacked by music promoter Sam Larry at Lekki Beach, and Mohbad had reported the incident to the police. Despite efforts, Larry had not been arrested.

In light of these testimonies, Magistrate Adedayo Shotobi summoned Sam Larry to appear before the court at the next adjournment to provide further clarification. 

Additionally, the coroner directed that the address of Mohbad’s driver be confirmed so that he could be subpoenaed to testify as well.