When Ilerioluwa Aloba, (Mohbad) , died on September 12, 2023, at just 27 years old, Nigeria’s music industry was thrown into grief and chaos.
Fans mourned not only the loss of a fast-rising star but also demanded answers, pointing fingers at those closest to him ,chief among them, his former record label boss, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley.
Months later, the courts acquitted Marley of any wrongdoing. Yet, while the law may have cleared him, the court of public opinion has remained relentless.
In a recently released YouTube video, Marley broke his long silence, denying allegations that he bullied or harmed his former signee.
“I’ve never sent anyone to bully Mohbad. I didn’t bully him, and I didn’t kill him. I was in Amsterdam when he died. Those who were with him 24 to 48 hours before his death should be the ones questioned,” he said, his tone both defensive and weary.
For many Nigerians, the words may not erase the cloud of suspicion that has hovered over him since Mohbad’s passing, but for Marley, it was a chance to reclaim his narrative.
In February 2024, a Magistrate’s Court in Yaba, Lagos, discharged Marley alongside music promoter Sam Larry, Mohbad’s friend Primeboy, and his former manager Babatunde Opere.
The inquest instead faulted auxiliary nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe, who was indicted for administering an injection to Mohbad without a doctor’s prescription ,an act described as both “unlawful” and “professionally negligent.”
But on the streets and across social media, acquittal did little to soften public anger.
For many fans, Marley’s name remains inseparably linked to Mohbad’s troubled career and tragic end.
Marley used the video to recount his side of their professional and personal relationship.
According to him, Mohbad battled with drug use and mental health challenges, struggles that strained not only their friendship but also his music career.
He claimed to have arranged health checks, medications, and even meetings with Mohbad’s parents to intervene.
On the business side, Marley described their record label agreement as a 50-50 revenue-sharing model, but alleged Mohbad once withdrew $72,000 from a streaming partner without remitting the label’s share — a move that further fractured trust.
The NDLEA Raid and a Viral Accusation
One of the lowest points in their relationship came in 2022 after an NDLEA raid.
Mohbad, visibly shaken, went live on Instagram, accusing Marlian Music of threatening his life.
Marley insists the accusations were made under duress, adding that Mohbad and his family later apologised for the outburst.
Though he voluntarily returned to Nigeria to “clear his name,” Marley said he was shocked when the police detained him for two months at Panti, Yaba.
He also revealed that Marlian Records is prepared to hand over Mohbad’s royalties to his family or a court-appointed custodian — a gesture aimed, perhaps, at showing goodwill.
For Marley, the video may have been an attempt to move forward. For Mohbad’s fans, however, the pain remains raw. Street chants of “Imole lives on” echo in his memory, a reminder that the young artist’s light was extinguished far too soon.
And while the courts have spoken, the Nigerian public remains unconvinced. Naira Marley may be cleared by law, but in the hearts of many, he continues to stand judged by the people.
