Nigerian singer and Marlian Records boss, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, has dismissed allegations linking him to the death of Afrobeats star Ilerioluwa Aloba (Mohbad), insisting that he was abroad when the tragedy occurred in September 2023.

In a one-hour-long video released on Tuesday, the singer revealed that he was in Amsterdam when Mohbad passed away and only learnt about it through social media.

“They (the police) had no reason to hold me for that long in a working country. I wasn’t even in the country. I came to Nigeria to support the investigations because people were pointing fingers at me, so people would understand that I had nothing to do with it. When I came back to Nigeria, I was in Panti for two months, and they held my passport.” Marley said, stressing that his passport proves his absence.

Mohbad died on 12 September 2023, sparking nationwide protests, vigils and calls for justice.

His body was later exhumed for autopsy, but the toxicology results remain disputed, with his family questioning the integrity of the process and demanding an independent review.

The Lagos Police Command had previously detained Marley, Sam Larry and others, but no conclusive evidence has yet been presented in court.

Naira Marley argued that investigators should have prioritised those with Mohbad in his final hours rather than targeting him and his associate, Sam Larry.

“If we were in a sane country, the police would have arrested everyone who was with him 24 to 48 hours before he died; the police had no reason to arrest me. I don’t understand. I wasn’t even in the country. People also dug up old videos of him and Sam Larry. Sam Larry wasn’t even in the country that time,” he maintained.

Marley claimed that blogs and social media platforms were paid to distort the story against him and Sam Larry, releasing selective clips that painted him as an aggressor.

He added that the backlash denied him and his circle the opportunity to grieve, “We never had time to mourn Mohbad properly.”

Rather than evading scrutiny, Marley called for a fresh, impartial probe into Mohbad’s death.

“If you ask me, I will tell the police to arrest everybody again. Put an officer we can trust in charge,” he said.

Label Disputes

Addressing claims of exploitation, Marley explained that his arrangement with Mohbad was a 50-50 profit-sharing structure, with the label covering major expenses.

He further alleged that Mohbad once made a $72,000 withdrawal while still demanding additional funds.

The label boss maintained that royalties were properly split, positioning himself as a fair label boss.

The Marlian Records chief also spoke about Mohbad’s personal battles, alleging the late artiste was heavily involved with hard drugs known as “Ice,” which fuelled paranoia, panic attacks and even suicidal tendencies.

Marley said there were instances where Mohbad attempted to jump from a building and required restraint during such episodes.

According to him, these issues were often misunderstood as oppression from the label.