Popular Nigerian musician, Azeez Fashola, better known as Naira Marley, has spoken extensively about the controversies surrounding the death of his former signee, Promise Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.
In a two-hour documentary released on Wednesday, the Marlian Records boss narrated Mohbad’s journey with his label, their fallout, and the circumstances that led to his death.
According to Naira Marley, he neither bullied nor had any hand in the passing of the 27-year-old singer, who died on September 12, 2023.
“I never killed Mohbad. I never bullied him. I’ve never sent anybody to bully him. Our dealings were always plain and transparent,” Naira Marley said.
Earlier in February, a Magistrate’s Court in Yaba, Lagos, cleared Naira Marley, music promoter Sam Larry (Samson Balogun), Primeboy (Ibrahim Owodunni), and Mohbad’s former manager, Babatunde Opere, of any involvement in the death.
Meanwhile, a Coroner’s Inquest sitting in Ikorodu ruled that Mohbad’s death was not a case of homicide but linked to the negligence of auxiliary nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe, who administered an injection without a doctor’s prescription. The court described the nurse’s action as both “unlawful and professionally negligent.”
Speaking in the new video, Naira Marley alleged that he first discovered in 2020 that Mohbad was using a substance known as Ice. “He told me he was taking it because of stress, but promised to stop. I didn’t force him to do anything,” he explained.
The Soapy crooner also recounted that after the NDLEA raid on Marlian House in February 2022, Mohbad was arrested along with others. According to him, Mohbad went live on Instagram shortly after his release, during a panic attack, accusing him and others of threatening his life.
“During the live session, Mohbad said, ‘If I die, everybody na Marlian Music, Naira Marley kill me,’” he recalled.Naira Marley explained that after the incident, Mohbad and his parents, alongside his girlfriend, Wunmi, apologised. He said Mohbad gradually stopped staying at Marlian House, and he tried to support him with health checks and medication.
He further revealed that on March 27, 2022, Mohbad attempted suicide while he (Naira Marley) was in Puerto Rico. On his return, he confronted Mohbad about searching online for Sniper, a deadly insecticide, and also discussed it with his parents, who agreed he needed help.
The Marlian boss said Mohbad later had a violent confrontation with his manager after becoming intoxicated, and thereafter accused several people, including his girlfriend, Zinoleesky, and even their wives, of plotting against him. “We suspect Mohbad had given his phone to someone to fabricate the story,” he added.
On October 7, 2022, Mohbad’s lawyer officially wrote to Marlian Music stating that the singer wanted to terminate his contract. In response, Naira Marley said he sent financial logs to show transparency.
“Not long after, in December 2022, Mohbad withdrew $72,000 from a DSP partner. That money wasn’t his, so we had to hold back part of his royalty payments until he returned it. After that, I stopped hearing from him and his lawyers,” Naira Marley said.
He added that the last time he saw Mohbad was on October 4, 2022, the day the late singer had a fight with his manager.
Naira Marley also clarified that he was in Amsterdam at the time of Mohbad’s death. “I expected those who were with him 24 to 48 hours before his death to have been arrested,” he said, adding that Sam Larry had personally told him he had no hand in the incident.
The singer criticised the police for detaining him for two months in Panti, Yaba, after he voluntarily returned to Nigeria to clear his name.
Despite the controversies, he stated that all royalties from Mohbad’s music during his time with Marlian Music remain intact. “His lawyer, along with whoever the family appoints, can collect them,” Naira Marley assured.
