The tragic death of Nigerian musician Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, on September 12, 2023, at the age of 27, has been a focal point of intense public scrutiny, legal battles, and a fierce wave of cancel culture. Months after various legal proceedings provided initial clarity, his former record label boss, Azeez Fashola, widely known as Naira Marley, finally broke his silence, sharing his perspective on the events surrounding Mohbad's life and demise through a recent video documentary.

Initially, a Magistrate's Court in Yaba, Lagos, acquitted Naira Marley, music promoter Samson Balogun (Sam Larry), Ibrahim Owodunni (Primeboy), and Mohbad's former manager Babatunde Opere of any blame in the singer's death. However, a Coroner's Court in Ikorodu, tasked with unraveling the circumstances, recommended the criminal prosecution of Feyisayo Ogedengbe, the auxiliary nurse who treated Mohbad shortly before his death. The court cited her actions as "unlawful and professionally negligent" due to administering an injection without a doctor's prescription, though it ruled out foul play or homicide in the case itself.

In his highly anticipated video, Naira Marley recounted the tumultuous relationship he had with Mohbad, who was signed to Marlian Music in 2019. Marley alleged that as early as June 7, 2020, he discovered Mohbad was using an illegal substance called 'Ice' (identified as crack). He claimed he was not angry but advised Mohbad on the dangers, with the singer attributing his drug use to stress. Marley also presented evidence that Mohbad independently chose his manager, Tunde, in July 2020, clarifying a financial arrangement where he suggested a 10% cut for the manager, a point of later contention.

Addressing various rumors, Naira Marley debunked claims that Mohbad feared visiting hospitals, presenting WhatsApp chats from November 2020 showing the artist attending medical facilities. He outlined their business dealings as transparent, operating on a 50-50 profit split after Naira Marley covered all expenses. A significant incident occurred on February 24, 2022, when National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officers raided the Marlian house. Naira Marley, who was in Sweden at the time, stated that Mohbad was taken along after a physical altercation with the officers. Following his release, Mohbad went live on Instagram, allegedly under duress and during a panic attack, accusing Naira Marley and others, famously stating, "If I die, everybody na Marlian Music, Naira Marley kill me." Marley claimed Mohbad also accused his girlfriend Wunmi, Zinoleesky, and even their wives, later calling Zinoleesky a "snitch" while in a vulnerable state of psychosis. Despite this, Mohbad remained with Marlian Music, and his parents and Wunmi reportedly apologized for his actions.

Following the NDLEA incident, Mohbad moved out of Marlian House, though he maintained access. Naira Marley claimed he tried to get Mohbad professional help, covering costs for health checks and medications. Marley further alleged that on March 27, 2022, while he was in Puerto Rico, Mohbad attempted suicide by trying to jump from a window and searching for a deadly insecticide, 'Sniper'. Upon his return, Marley said he spoke with Mohbad and his parents, leading to a consensus for Mohbad to be taken away for his safety. The relationship continued with Mohbad attending Marlian Day and performing in May 2022.

A critical point of dispute arose on October 4, 2022, when Mohbad, reportedly intoxicated, confronted his manager Tunde at Marlian House after a falling out. A fight ensued, which Naira Marley claimed he personally stopped. Shortly after, tweets surfaced accusing Naira Marley of threatening Mohbad's life because he wanted to change managers, claims Marley suspects were fabricated by someone else with access to Mohbad's phone, emphasizing that Mohbad knew Tunde was not his brother. On October 7, 2022, Mohbad's lawyer formally requested to terminate his contract and asked for payment logs, which Naira Marley provided to demonstrate transparency. Marley also revealed that in December 2022, Mohbad unilaterally withdrew $72,000 from a DSP partner, money Marley stated was not rightfully his, leading to a temporary hold on some of Mohbad's royalty payments. Naira Marley stated he last saw Mohbad on the day of the fight with his manager, October 4, 2022, and was in Amsterdam on the day of Mohbad's death. He criticized the police for detaining him for two months and pledged that Mohbad's untouched royalties would be handed over to whoever the family or court designates. In his documentary, Marley extended his allegations, suggesting complicity from Mohbad's wife, his fellow signee Zinoleesky, and an unnamed friend for introducing him to hard drugs.

Mohbad's death profoundly impacted Nigeria's social landscape, particularly amplifying the nation's severe and often unforgiving cancel culture. The initial news, followed by circulating videos and voice notes hinting at bullying and oppression by Naira Marley and Sam Larry, quickly transformed social media into a courtroom. The public swiftly delivered a "guilty" verdict, leading to a digital manhunt, radio bans, and a massive loss of goodwill for Naira Marley. This phenomenon, characterized by its ruthlessness in Nigeria, thrives on a deep distrust of institutions and a demand for swift, emotionally-driven justice, often bypassing established legal processes. Naira Marley became the primary target, his reputation severely damaged long before formal investigations concluded, as exemplified by radio stations banning his songs and later reversing decisions.

The dangers of such a pervasive cancel culture are numerous, particularly in a society with weak judicial systems. It fuels moral signaling, where individuals with their own ethical shortcomings participate loudly in "Justice for Mohbad" campaigns. Mohbad's tragedy became a canvas for broader societal frustrations with governance and systemic issues like exploitation in the music industry, weak copyright laws, and bullying. However, this outrage, channeled predominantly into canceling one individual, failed to address the underlying structural problems. Naira Marley's recent documentary has split public opinion, with some regretting their initial judgment while others view it as damage control. The incident underscores that while cancel culture punishes quickly, it rarely brings true closure, accountability, or systemic justice. It highlights the urgent need for a more discerning populace, responsible media, and robust internal structures within industries to prevent mob rule from substituting for actual justice and meaningful reform.