Popular musician, Azeez Fashola, professionally known as Naira Marley, has formally presented his account of events surrounding the death of his former signee, Promise Aloba (popularly called Mohbad).
In a documentary of approximately two hours, released on Wednesday, Naira Marley recounted Mohbad’s entry into his record label, the trajectory of his musical career, and the circumstances leading up to his demise.
The artiste expressly denied allegations of bullying or any involvement in the death of Mohbad, the singer of “Ask About Me” and “KPK.”
It will be recalled that Mohbad passed away on September 12, 2023, at the age of 27. Subsequently, in February 2024, a Magistrate’s Court in Yaba, Lagos, discharged and acquitted Naira Marley and music promoter Samson Balogun (popularly known as Sam Larry) of any criminal liability in relation to Mohbad’s death.
The same decision of the court also cleared Ibrahim Owodunni (alias Primeboy) and Mohbad’s former manager, Babatunde Opere.
However, in July 2024, the Coroner’s Court sitting in Ikorodu recommended the criminal prosecution of Feyisayo Ogedengbe, the auxiliary nurse who attended to Mohbad shortly before his passing.
The inquest into the death of late singer Promise Aloba, professionally known as Mohbad, was instituted by the Lagos State Government to ascertain the circumstances surrounding his demise.
Presiding Magistrate Adedayo Shotobi, in her findings, determined that the auxiliary nurse who attended to the deceased acted with gross professional negligence by administering an injection absent any doctor’s prescription. While the Coroner’s Court ruled out homicide or foul play, it expressly held that the nurse’s conduct was both “unlawful and professionally negligent.”
In response to ongoing public speculation, musician Azeez Fashola, also known as Naira Marley, released a video documentary wherein he sought to clarify his role in Mohbad’s career and address allegations of misconduct.
According to him, on June 7, 2020, he discovered that Mohbad had begun using a substance identified as “Ice” (crystal methamphetamine). He stated that he cautioned the deceased about its dangers but did not compel him in any way. He further disclosed that Mohbad personally selected his own manager in July 2020, with whom financial terms were structured transparently on a 50-50 basis.
Naira Marley also rejected claims that Mohbad avoided medical treatment, producing evidence of hospital visits in November 2020. He recounted the February 24, 2022 raid on the Marlian Music residence by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), noting that Mohbad, although uninvolved, was taken into custody after a confrontation with officers.
Following Mohbad’s subsequent release, Naira Marley alleged that the deceased, under duress and while experiencing a panic attack, went live on Instagram and made accusations against multiple individuals, including himself, his colleagues, and even family members. He emphasized that Mohbad and his family later apologised for these statements.
He further narrated that in March 2022, Mohbad attempted suicide, after which efforts were made to secure medical and psychological assistance. Later that year, disagreements arose over management and financial transactions, including an alleged unilateral withdrawal of $72,000 by Mohbad in December 2022.
Naira Marley stated that the last physical interaction he had with Mohbad was on October 4, 2022, following a dispute involving Mohbad’s manager. He added that at the time of Mohbad’s death on September 12, 2023, he was outside Nigeria, in Amsterdam, and categorically denied any involvement. He further questioned why individuals who were with Mohbad within the final 24 to 48 hours were not the subject of immediate law enforcement scrutiny.#newsafro_
