Naira Marley, the Nigerian music star, has strongly denied any involvement in the death of Afrobeats artist Mohbad (real name Aloba Oladimeji Ilerioluwa), following a wave of public accusations. Mohbad’s tragic death at 27 on September 12, 2023, sent shockwaves through Nigeria and beyond, sparking widespread grief and speculation.
Initially labeled a “mysterious” death, Mohbad’s passing quickly became a public controversy, with many pointing fingers at his former label, Marlian Records, and its boss, Naira Marley. Allegations of bullying and harassment during Mohbad’s time at the label fueled an outcry, leading to a petition for a police investigation and a radio ban on Marley’s music.
Despite these accusations, Marley denied any involvement in Mohbad’s death. A court ruling on Tuesday, following legal advice from the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions, cleared Marley and music promoter Samson ‘Sam Larry’ Eletu of any wrongdoing. Additionally, Mohbad’s former manager, Opere Babatunde, was also exonerated from allegations of harassment.
After the ruling, Marley expressed relief mixed with lingering pain. In a heartfelt post on X, he shared, “I never thought silence could be so loud. I never thought someone I called my brother, someone I protected, would leave this world with my name in his shadow.”
The mystery deepened when a 2024 autopsy revealed inconclusive results due to the advanced decomposition of Mohbad’s body, leaving the exact cause of death uncertain. Despite the pathologist’s findings, Marley remained under investigation, with the court’s judgment offering some resolution.
Although Marley has been cleared, fans remain divided, questioning whether the full truth behind Mohbad’s death will ever be known. Marley, however, stands firm, stating, “The truth does not shake. The lies will fade, and time will reveal everything. I have been broken, but I am not destroyed.”
The Lagos prosecution has indicated that the case is far from closed, announcing plans to pursue charges against an unlicensed nurse and one of Mohbad’s friends for “reckless and negligent acts” related to his treatment, which may have contributed to his death.