The tragic death of Nigerian musician Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, on September 12, 2023, at the age of 27, sparked a profound national outcry and intense scrutiny, particularly directed at his former label boss, Naira Marley (Azeez Fashola). While a Coroner's Court later attributed Mohbad's death to medical negligence by an auxiliary nurse, exonerating Naira Marley and others, public opinion had already formed a swift verdict. Months after his acquittal, Naira Marley released a YouTube documentary to present his side of the controversial story, simultaneously highlighting the potent and often unforgiving nature of cancel culture in Nigeria.

In his detailed account, Naira Marley addressed several allegations, including claims of bullying and exploitation. He stated that he first learned of Mohbad's alleged use of "Ice" (later identified as Crack) on June 7, 2020, and offered advice, attributing Mohbad's use to stress. Marley also shed light on a financial dispute, claiming that Mohbad initially used an account linked to his wife, Wunmi's family, before using his own. He recounted the February 2022 National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) raid on Marlian House, during which Mohbad was taken after a scuffle with officers. Marley asserted that Mohbad, under duress and experiencing a panic attack, made accusations against him and others during an Instagram live session. Despite this, Mohbad remained with Marlian Music, and Marley claimed he sought help for the artist, including paying for health checks and medications. Marley also alleged a suicide attempt by Mohbad on March 27, 2022, while he (Marley) was abroad, and that upon his return, they discussed Mohbad's online search for a deadly insecticide, leading to a family decision for Mohbad to be taken away from his environment.

Further tensions arose from a managerial dispute. Naira Marley clarified that Mohbad himself chose Tunde as his manager in July 2020, and he intervened to set Tunde's commission at 10% instead of 25%. On October 4, 2022, a quarrel erupted between Mohbad and Tunde, culminating in a physical altercation at Marlian House after Mohbad, allegedly intoxicated, confronted Tunde. Shortly after this incident, tweets accusing Naira Marley of threats and attacks emerged, which Marley suspects were fabricated by someone else with access to Mohbad's phone, given Mohbad's good relationship with him and his understanding that Tunde was not Marley's brother. The contract termination followed on October 7, 2022, with Mohbad's lawyer requesting payment logs. Marley stated he provided these transparently but also revealed Mohbad had withdrawn $72,000 from a DSP partner, money he claimed was not Mohbad's rightful earnings, leading to a temporary hold on some royalties. Marley last saw Mohbad on October 4, 2022, the day of the fight with his manager.

Naira Marley maintained he was in Europe (Montenegro after Amsterdam) on September 12, 2023, the day Mohbad died, and that initial reports cited an ear infection. He expressed surprise at the immediate public accusations against him and Sam Larry, believing that those who were with Mohbad 24-48 hours prior to his death should have been scrutinized. He also criticized his two-month detention by the police in Panti, Lagos. Regarding Mohbad's earnings, Marley affirmed that royalties remain untouched and Marlian Music has contacted Mohbad's lawyer, ready to hand them over to whoever the family or court designates.

Mohbad's death swiftly ignited Nigeria's notoriously fast, final, and unforgiving "cancel culture." Videos and voice notes hinting at bullying by Naira Marley and Sam Larry transformed social media into a virtual courtroom. The public, driven by an acute distrust in traditional institutions and a desire for "sharp, sharp" justice, quickly declared Naira Marley guilty. This resulted in boycotts, radio bans, unfollowings, and a digital manhunt that wrecked his career overnight. Figures like activist Martin "VeryDarkMan" Otse and celebrities Iyabo Ojo and Tonto Dikeh, alongside gossip blogs and WhatsApp groups, amplified the outrage, creating an environment where a verdict was reached long before formal investigations concluded. The ban by Agidigbo FM, later reversed, exemplified how public rage dictated Marley's fate.

This case starkly illustrated the dangers of cancel culture in a society where the judiciary is weak and trust in official systems is thin. It often devolves into mob justice, where emotional decisions and irrational thinking supersede facts. The disparity in judgment, often influenced by status, also highlights its flaws. Furthermore, cancel culture can become a platform for moral signaling, with individuals condemning perceived injustices while overlooking their own. Mohbad's tragedy, in many ways, became a canvas for Nigerians' collective frustrations with government and institutions, channeling outrage into targeting an individual rather than addressing systemic issues like exploitation in the music industry, weak copyright laws, and bullying.

To mitigate the destructive aspects of cancel culture, a more literate and discerning populace is crucial—one that demands facts over gossip and resists the spread of misinformation, especially with the rise of AI-driven deepfakes. The media, as the fourth estate, bears significant responsibility to provide balanced, nuanced, and verified reporting instead of amplifying mob verdicts for clicks. The entertainment industry itself needs robust internal structures for accountability, including unions, mediation boards, and welfare protections for artists, which could resolve disputes internally and prevent public outrage from filling regulatory vacuums. Finally, artists and creatives must proactively crisis-proof their brands, maintain transparency, and respond empathetically to controversies, understanding that silence or missteps can be construed as guilt in the powerful court of public opinion, where careers can be irreversibly damaged in days.