Musician Azeez Fashola, widely known as Naira Marley, has finally broken his silence regarding the tragic death of his former signee, Ilerioluwa Aloba, also known as Mohbad. Mohbad died on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at the age of 27. Months after a Magistrate’s Court in Yaba, Lagos, acquitted Naira Marley and music promoter Sam Larry (Samson Balogun), along with Primeboy (Ibrahim Owodunni) and Mohbad’s former manager, Babatunde Opere, of blame in Mohbad’s death, Naira Marley released a YouTube documentary titled “My Side of the Story,” explaining his account of events.

The Coroner’s Court, sitting in Ikorodu in July, had recommended the criminal prosecution of Feyisayo Ogedengbe, the auxiliary nurse who treated Mohbad shortly before his demise. Magistrate Adedayo Shotobi concluded that the nurse acted with gross negligence by administering an injection without a doctor’s prescription, deeming her actions “unlawful and professionally negligent,” though the court ruled out foul play or homicide in the case.

Naira Marley, who became prominent in the Nigerian music scene in 2018 and signed Mohbad and Zinoleesky to Marlian Music in 2019, asserted his innocence. He stated, “I didn’t bully him and I didn’t kill him.” He described their relationship as cordial, noting that they often had “lovely conversations” and that he first learned about Mohbad’s substance abuse, specifically a drug called ‘Ice’ (which he later learned was Crack), on June 7, 2020. He claimed he advised Mohbad against it, and Mohbad explained he got into it due to stress, promising to quit.

Regarding their business dealings, Naira Marley insisted on transparency, stating, “We shared everything 50/50.” He debunked rumors that Mohbad was afraid to visit hospitals, providing a WhatsApp chat from November 2020 showing Mohbad had visited one. He also addressed a bank account dispute from November 2020, where Mohbad initially claimed an account (Adesanya Justina Olajumoke) was his, then his mother’s, before Wunmi admitted it was linked to her family. Afterward, Mohbad began using his own account, Aloba Promise.

Naira Marley recounted the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) raid on Marlian House on February 24, 2022, while he was in Sweden. Zinoleesky and one Subomi were arrested, and Mohbad was also taken after a physical altercation with officers. According to Naira Marley, Mohbad went live on Instagram shortly after his release, under duress and during a panic attack, accusing Naira Marley and others. In the viral live session, Mohbad stated, “If I die, everybody na Marlian Music, Naira Marley kill me.” Naira Marley claimed Mohbad also accused his girlfriend, Zinoleesky, and their wives. Despite this, Mohbad remained with Marlian Music, releasing songs like ‘Ronaldo’ and ‘Peace’ later that year.

After the NDLEA incident, Mohbad stopped staying frequently at Marlian House, moving into his own apartment. Naira Marley stated he tried to help Mohbad by paying for health checks and medications. He alleged that Mohbad attempted suicide on March 27, 2022, while Naira Marley was in Puerto Rico. He received calls and messages that Mohbad was trying to jump out of a window and had searched online for a deadly insecticide called Sniper. Upon his return to Nigeria, Naira Marley spoke with Mohbad and his parents, concluding that Mohbad needed to be taken away from his environment.

Naira Marley further detailed a managerial dispute in October 2022. Mohbad had chosen his manager, Tunde, in July 2020, with Naira Marley suggesting a 10% payment cut for Tunde instead of 20-25%. However, Mohbad later expressed dissatisfaction with Tunde, stating he was “tired” and would manage himself. This led to a heated exchange, with Mohbad insulting Tunde. On October 4, 2022, an intoxicated Mohbad confronted Tunde at the studio, leading to a physical fight that Naira Marley intervened to stop. Shortly after, Mohbad tweeted accusations against Naira Marley and Marlian Records, claiming he was attacked for wanting to change his manager. Naira Marley suspects someone else was behind these tweets, given Mohbad knew Tunde was not his brother.

On October 7, 2022, Mohbad’s lawyer sent a letter to Marlian Music to terminate his contract and requested payment logs. Naira Marley stated he provided the logs transparently. He also mentioned that in December 2022, Mohbad withdrew $72,000 from a DSP partner, money Naira Marley claimed was not Mohbad’s. Naira Marley said he held some of Mohbad’s royalty payments until the money was returned. He last saw Mohbad on October 4, 2022, the day of the fight with his manager.

Naira Marley maintained he was in Amsterdam (Europe) with Zinoleesky when Mohbad died on September 12, 2023, learning of it via social media. He initially dismissed the news as a publicity stunt but checked Instagram after Zinoleesky urged him, only to find reports linking Mohbad’s death to an ear infection, followed by a swift online narrative shift accusing him. He criticized the police for detaining him for two months in Panti, Yaba, Lagos, after he returned to Nigeria to clear his name. Naira Marley concluded by stating that Marlian Music has contacted Mohbad’s lawyer and is ready to hand over the late musician’s untouched royalties to whomever the family or court designates. This documentary aims to portray Naira Marley as a supportive mentor unjustly accused, yet with fresh claims against Mohbad’s wife, friends, and associates, the controversy remains unsettled.