British-Nigerian singer and founder of Marlian Records, Azeez "Naira Marley" Fashola, has finally broken his silence regarding the controversial death of his signee, Ilerioluwa "Aloba" Mohbad. Nearly three years after Mohbad's passing under unresolved circumstances, Naira Marley released a viral documentary on his record label's official YouTube page. This documentary aims to present his side of the story, addressing the myriad issues and allegations that have plagued him since Mohbad's death. Previously, the singer had largely remained silent despite being at the epicentre of allegations, counter-claims, and cancel culture, navigating ongoing police investigations, a coroner's ruling, autopsy reports, and royalty disputes. The events surrounding Mohbad's death also ignited a fierce national conversation about the ruthless and unforgiving nature of cancel culture in Nigeria.

In the documentary, the 34-year-old artist made several significant allegations, offering previously unrevealed insights into Mohbad's life and the challenges he faced. Naira Marley accused Mohbad's wife, his fellow signee Zinoleesky, and an unnamed friend—allegedly responsible for introducing the late singer to hard drugs—of complicity in aspects of Mohbad's struggles. He also touched upon Mohbad's parents and the specifics of the singer's short-lived contract with Marlian Records. This move comes after a coroner's inquest concluded that Mohbad died due to medical negligence, recommending the prosecution of the nurse involved, and subsequent "investigations" by activists like Martin "VeryDarkMan (VDM)" Otse, which implicated various public figures.

Recounting the genesis of their relationship, Marley stated, "I didn't kill him (Mohbad) or bully him." He detailed announcing Mohbad at Marlian Fest in December 2019, alongside other artists. Marley claimed to have first learned of Mohbad's drug use, specifically "Ice" (which he later identified as Crack), on June 7, 2020. Despite his concerns, he stated he was not angry but instead advised Mohbad on the dangers, with Mohbad admitting he started taking it with a "crackhead friend." Marley maintained that there was no bad blood and that he sought to offer guidance rather than anger.

The documentary also shed light on a bank account dispute. On November 10, 2020, Mohbad allegedly sent Marley an account under the name Adesanya Justina Olajumoke, initially claiming it was his own before stating it belonged to his mother, whose name was Abosede. Marley suspected a link to Mohbad's wife, Wunmi's family, a suspicion confirmed when Wunmi later admitted her involvement. Following this, Mohbad began using his personal account, Aloba Promise.

Marley revisited the controversial February 2022 NDLEA raid on Marlian House, which occurred while he was in Sweden. He detailed how Zinoleesky, Subomi, and others were arrested, and Mohbad was also taken after a scuffle. Mohbad subsequently went live, allegedly under duress, accusing Marley and others of endangering his life, including his wife and Zinoleesky. Upon his return, Marley claimed he paid Mohbad's hospital bills and for a CT scan, though he never fully understood the incident. Despite this, Mohbad remained with Marlian Music, releasing tracks like 'Ronaldo' and 'Peace' in 2022.

Following the NDLEA incident, Mohbad moved out of Marlian House into his own apartment but maintained contact with Marley. Marley recounted efforts to get Mohbad help, including more scans and medications, and their meeting in March 2022 where Mohbad expressed a desire to find a new place. Marley alleged that Mohbad attempted suicide on March 27, 2022, while Marley was in Puerto Rico. He described receiving calls and messages that Mohbad was trying to jump from a window. Marley intervened, speaking to Mohbad and urging him not to take his life, reminding him of his worth and advising him to leave any stressful situations. Mohbad apologized, and Marley dispatched Zinoleesky and others to be with him, even involving Mohbad's father. Despite this, Marley claimed Mohbad still felt unwell upon his return to Nigeria, leading to a meeting with Mohbad's parents.

Marley recounted Mohbad attending the Marlian Day celebration on May 30, 2022, where he performed a featured song, indicating a period of reconciliation despite past issues. He also addressed Mohbad's previous claim that Zinoleesky was a "snitch," asserting there was no snitching, and their relationship appeared to be good. Further, Marley claimed transparency regarding Mohbad's finances, stating he provided full payment logs after Mohbad requested them.

A significant conflict arose in October 2022 concerning Mohbad's self-chosen manager, Tunde. Marley stated that Mohbad personally selected Tunde but later quarrelled with him. On October 4, 2022, Mohbad expressed dissatisfaction with Tunde's performance and his desire to manage himself, which Marley advised against, urging him to find a new manager if he no longer wanted to work with Tunde. The dispute escalated, leading to Mohbad confronting Tunde while intoxicated at the studio, resulting in a physical fight that Marley claimed to have stopped. Following this, tweets emerged online accusing Marley and Marlian Records, which Marley suspects were fabricated by someone else with access to Mohbad's account, given Mohbad knew Tunde was not related to Marley.

The fallout led to Mohbad's contract termination. On October 7, 2022, Marley received a letter from Mohbad's lawyer to end his contract and request payment logs. Marley asserted he had nothing to hide and sent the logs, choosing not to pursue Mohbad despite the artist withdrawing $72,000 from a DSP partner, viewing it as an investment from God. Marley maintained his alibi regarding Mohbad's death on September 12, 2023, stating he was in Europe with Zinoleesky and learned of it there. He noted that fingers immediately pointed at him, with old videos resurfacing.

Regarding royalties, Marley pledged that Mohbad's earnings remain untouched and will be handed over to whoever the court or his family appoints. Through the documentary, Marley sought to portray himself as a supportive mentor who was wrongly accused. However, with fresh claims against Mohbad's wife, friends, and associates, the controversy surrounding the late singer's demise remains far from settled.

The tragic death of Mohbad in September 2023 swiftly became a defining moment for cancel culture in Nigeria. What began with initial reports of an ear infection quickly spiralled as videos and voice notes surfaced, suggesting bullying and oppression at the hands of Naira Marley and his associate, Sam Larry. This instantly transformed social media into an unofficial courtroom, where public sentiment delivered a swift verdict: Naira Marley was deemed guilty. The impact was immediate and severe; his goodwill evaporated, radio stations like Agidigbo FM banned his songs, fans unfollowed him en masse, and a digital manhunt ensued, labelling him the face of exploitation in the music industry, all while he was embroiled in an internet fraud trial.

Cancel culture, the withdrawal of support over perceived wrongdoings, is a global phenomenon, but in Nigeria, it is particularly ruthless and unforgiving. Unlike in other climes, where it might involve boycotts and public criticism, in Nigeria, it is amplified by a deep distrust in state institutions, a hunger for immediate "sharp, sharp" justice, and often, irrational, emotionally driven decisions. This leads to instant verdicts that can decimate careers long before any facts are established. Naira Marley became the quintessential target of this social media mob justice, with every leaked video and trending hashtag seemingly confirming his guilt. The fear for his life reportedly led him to flee, and even individuals with a mere resemblance to him faced public ire.

The dangers of such a system are manifold in a society with a weak judiciary and thin trust in official channels. Outrage often substitutes for genuine justice. Cases like that of Fuji legend KWAM 1 versus Comfort Emmanson, where public figures with connections seem to escape scrutiny while ordinary citizens face harsh consequences, highlight how status can dictate who gets cancelled. Nigerian cancel culture also thrives on moral signalling, where individuals loudly condemn "evil" while often perpetuating similar injustices, as seen when employers owing staff salaries joined the "Justice for Mohbad" campaign. Ultimately, Mohbad's death became a canvas for broader national frustrations with government and institutions, bringing to light issues like record label exploitation and weak copyright laws. However, instead of addressing these systemic problems, the collective outrage was predominantly channeled into cancelling one man, which alone could not resolve the deeper rot.

Moving forward, for cancel culture to be better managed, there needs to be a more literate and discerning populace that prioritizes facts over gossip and scandal. The pervasive influence of sensational headlines, conspiracy theories, and echo chambers on social media, exacerbated by AI-driven misinformation, makes discerning truth increasingly challenging. Outrage, while powerful in the moment, is not a substitute for accountability or real justice. The media, as the fourth estate, bears a critical responsibility to provide balance, nuance, and perspective, rather than merely amplifying mob verdicts. Naira Marley's recent documentary, by breaking his silence, has split public opinion, with some regretting their initial judgment and others viewing it as damage control. This underscores the lesson that silence can indeed wreck a brand, and outrage rarely brings closure or true justice.

The entertainment industry itself must establish robust structures for accountability, including proper unions, mediation boards, and welfare protections for artists. Many issues that fuel public outrage—exploitation, unfair contracts, bullying—could be resolved internally if strong systems were in place. Without such frameworks, public anger will continue to fill the vacuum left by weak regulation and an inadequate justice system. Finally, artists and creatives must understand the formidable power of the court of public opinion. Crisis-proofing their brands, being mindful of associations, and responding with transparency and empathy during controversies are no longer optional. In a cancel-prone industry, a misstep or silence can be interpreted as guilt, and careers can be irrevocably damaged in a matter of days.