…Naira Marley narrated his relationship with Mohbad.
LAGOS, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | Nigerian singer and Marlian Music boss, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, has spoken publicly for the first time about the events surrounding the death of his former signee, Promise Aloba, also known as Mohbad.
In a newly released two-hour documentary aired on Wednesday, Naira Marley narrated his relationship with Mohbad, from the start of his musical journey to the controversies that followed his tragic passing.
Mohbad died on September 12, 2023, at the age of 27, sparking nationwide outrage, allegations of bullying, and calls for justice. While the Lagos Magistrate’s Court in February acquitted Naira Marley, Sam Larry, Primeboy, and others of any criminal responsibility, public scrutiny continued to trail the case.
In July, a Coroner’s Court in Ikorodu concluded that Mohbad was not murdered, but found that an auxiliary nurse, Feyisayo Ogedengbe, acted with gross negligence by administering an unprescribed injection. The court recommended her criminal prosecution.
Addressing the backlash in the documentary, Naira Marley said, “I never bullied Mohbad, and I didn’t kill him. He was like a brother. We worked together. I tried to help him.”
According to Naira Marley, trouble began when he discovered Mohbad was using a substance known as “Ice” (methamphetamine) in June 2020. “He told me he was using it because of stress. I wasn’t angry. I just warned him because I’ve seen what that drug can do,” he explained.
He also dismissed claims that Mohbad was fearful of seeking medical help, displaying WhatsApp chats from 2020 that showed the late singer had visited hospitals while still with the label.
The Marlian Music boss highlighted that Mohbad picked his own manager in July 2020, and financial dealings between both parties were transparent. “Our split was 50-50. I paid for everything, and he got his share. I even insisted his manager take just 10%, not 25%,” he stated.
On February 24, 2022, a raid by NDLEA officers on the Marlian house led to the arrest of Zinoleesky, Subomi, and Mohbad. Naira Marley, who was in Sweden at the time, claimed Mohbad suffered a panic attack and went live on Instagram under duress. It was during this episode that Mohbad made a viral statement: “If I die, everybody na Marlian Music, Naira Marley kill me.”
“He accused everyone, his girlfriend, wives of other artistes, even his close friends. He was in a psychotic state,” Naira Marley said.
He revealed that Mohbad once attempted suicide in March 2022 and had searched online for “Sniper” a toxic insecticide, prompting an urgent intervention. “I spoke with his parents and advised that he be moved away from stressful environments. I was trying to help him,” Naira Marley added.
The singer also clarified that by late 2022, their relationship had deteriorated. He accused Mohbad of withdrawing $72,000 from a digital service platform (DSP) partner without consent. “That money wasn’t his, so we held back some of his royalties until it was resolved. After that, he cut off communication with us.”
According to Naira Marley, the last time he saw Mohbad was on October 4, 2022, after the artist stormed the Marlian house in a drunken state and got into a fight with his manager.
On October 7, Mohbad’s legal team sent a formal termination letter to Marlian Music. Naira Marley said he responded by sending complete payment logs to the lawyers to prove transparency.
He insisted he was in Amsterdam on the day Mohbad died and criticized the police for detaining him for two months at Panti, Yaba, upon his return to Nigeria.
“They should have arrested the people around him in the last 24 to 48 hours before his death,” he said.
On the question of royalties, Naira Marley assured that Mohbad’s earnings remain intact. “Everything Mohbad earned while with Marlian Music is still there. My lawyer and whoever his family appoints can access it.”
He also defended his longtime associate, Sam Larry, saying, “Sam told me he had nothing to do with Mohbad’s death, and I believe him.”
Despite the legal clearance, Naira Marley’s public image has suffered intense damage since Mohbad’s death, with widespread calls for boycotts and backlash online. His documentary appears to be an attempt to reclaim the narrative and appeal directly to the public.
Whether it shifts opinion remains to be seen.
