Popular musician, Azeez Fashola, also known as Naira Marley, has opened up on his side of the story concerning the death of his former signee, Promise Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.
In a two-hour documentary released on Wednesday, Naira Marley narrated how Mohbad joined his record label, his musical journey, and the circumstances surrounding his death.
The Marlian Records boss insisted he never bullied or killed the “Ask About Me” and “KPK” crooner.
Mohbad died on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at the age of 27. Earlier in February, a Magistrate’s Court in Yaba, Lagos, acquitted Naira Marley and music promoter Samson Balogun, popularly known as Sam Larry, of blame in the case. The court also discharged Primeboy (Ibrahim Owodunni) and Mohbad’s former manager, Babatunde Opere.
In July, however, a Coroner’s Court sitting in Ikorodu recommended the criminal prosecution of auxiliary nurse, Feyisayo Ogedengbe, who treated Mohbad shortly before his death. Magistrate Adedayo Shotobi ruled that the nurse acted with gross negligence by administering an injection without a doctor’s prescription. The court concluded that while foul play or homicide was ruled out, Ogedengbe’s actions were both “unlawful and professionally negligent.”
In his documentary, Naira Marley claimed that on June 7, 2020, he discovered Mohbad was using a hard substance called Ice (crack).
“He told me he was taking a substance which I later found out to be Ice. I wasn’t angry. I called him and advised him about the dangers because I know what it has done to people in the UK. He said he got into it because of stress but promised to stop. I didn’t force him to do anything,” Marley said.
He also revealed that Mohbad independently chose his manager in July 2020, intending to pay him 25 percent until he (Marley) intervened to reduce it to 10 percent. According to him, their business dealings were transparent, with a 50-50 profit-sharing arrangement after expenses.
Addressing speculations that Mohbad avoided hospitals, Marley displayed WhatsApp evidence showing the late singer visited a hospital in November 2020.
On February 24, 2022, officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) raided the Marlian house and arrested Zinoleesky, Subomi, and Mohbad. Naira Marley, who was in Sweden at the time, said Mohbad was picked because he had a physical altercation with the officers.
“Mohbad went live on Instagram under duress shortly after his release. While having a panic attack, he accused me and others. He even accused Zino, our wives, and many people,” Marley said, adding that Mohbad later apologised alongside his parents and girlfriend, Wunmi.
He further disclosed that Mohbad attempted suicide on March 27, 2022, while he (Marley) was in Puerto Rico. On returning to Nigeria, he confronted Mohbad about searching online for the insecticide Sniper and discussed the matter with his parents, who agreed he needed to be taken away for care.
Naira Marley also recounted that Mohbad once came intoxicated to Marlian house and fought his manager, after which he posted accusations on Twitter (now X), alleging threats to his life. Marley suggested someone else could have used Mohbad’s phone to post the claims.
On October 7, 2022, Mohbad’s lawyer wrote to Marlian Music, seeking to terminate his contract. Marley said he provided financial records to the lawyer for transparency. He also alleged that in December 2022, Mohbad withdrew $72,000 from a Digital Streaming Platform partner, which did not belong to him, leading the label to withhold some of his royalty payments until repayment.
Marley said after that withdrawal, communication ceased between him, Mohbad, and his lawyers. He noted that the last time he saw Mohbad was on October 4, 2022, during the latter’s clash with his manager.
He stressed that he was in Amsterdam when Mohbad died, yet people began accusing him of involvement in the tragedy.
“I expected that those who were with Mohbad 24 to 48 hours before his death should have been arrested,” Marley said.
ADEOLA KUNLE
