Marlian Records boss, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, has broken his silence nearly two years after the death of his former signee, Ilerioluwa Aloba (Mohbad).
In a YouTube video titled “My Side of the Story”, the rapper said he was in Amsterdam when news broke that Mohbad had died at 27. He insisted he only learned of the tragedy through social media.
“I didn’t bully him, and I didn’t kill him,” Naira Marley said, addressing long-standing allegations linking him to Mohbad’s death.
‘We had a cordial relationship’
Marley described his relationship with Mohbad as “cordial,” recalling that they often had “lovely conversations.” He acknowledged hearing about the late singer’s struggles with substance abuse in 2020 but denied any wrongdoing in their business dealings.
“I didn’t cheat him. Everything was transparent — we shared everything 50/50,” he maintained.
He also recounted incidents that strained their relationship, including Mohbad’s viral video in which he claimed: “If I die, na Naira Marley kill me.” Marley alleged that Mohbad had staged disputes to exit Marlian Records and later handed over his social media accounts to others to tarnish his image.
The day Mohbad died
According to Marley, he was far from Lagos on September 12, 2023, when Mohbad passed away.
“We were in Amsterdam, in a restaurant, waiting for food when someone said Mohbad had died. At first, I dismissed it, thinking it was clout chasing. Then I checked Instagram and saw the reports,” he said.
He expressed pain that online narratives quickly turned against him:
“I didn’t even get time to mourn because people were saying things I didn’t do. Blogs were funded to change the story.”
Fallout and legal clearance
Mohbad had formally terminated his contract with Marlian Records in October 2022, accusing Marley of assault and demanding a review of his financial records. Their relationship never recovered.
Naira Marley’s statement comes months after a February 2025 court ruling cleared him and two others of any involvement in Mohbad’s death, legally vindicating him.
Despite this, Mohbad’s passing continues to stir anger and debate across Nigeria’s music industry, with fans and activists still demanding justice.
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