On March 21, popular musician Afeez Fashola, famously known as Naira Marley, appeared virtually at a coroner's court hearing concerning the death of Ilerioluwa Aloba, better known as Mohbad.


As the founder of the Marlian Music label, Naira Marley has come under fire from social media users following the tragic passing of Mohbad. During his testimony, he reflected on the journey of signing Mohbad in 2019, mentioning that the artist departed from the label in September 2022.


Naira Marley claimed that there were no personal disputes between him and Mohbad, attributing any friction to Mohbad's relationship with his manager, Tunde. “Their disagreements began in a group chat, which I have documented. I attempted to mediate, but tensions escalated to physical confrontations. I even offered Mohbad the chance to change managers if that would improve his situation. When things turned violent, I refrained from involving law enforcement since Mohbad had hired Tunde himself,” Marley stated.


He firmly denied any allegations of threatening or exploiting Mohbad, asserting, “Sam Larry is a mutual friend of both of us, and I never instructed him to harm Mohbad. I did not cheat or take advantage of him.”


Citing concerns for his safety, Naira Marley explained that he requested a virtual hearing due to receiving threats against his life. He also mentioned the unresolved issue of Mohbad's royalties, stating, “Since Mohbad's passing, I have not touched a single penny of his earnings. His money remains with me, and I am awaiting a family representative who has the right to collect it. I urge the court to investigate those who were closely involved with him in the days leading up to his death, including those who invited him to the event and were present with him.”


Social media reactions were immediate and varied:


_user1 commented: “Let’s ensure the rightful person gets what’s due. It’s important we handle this carefully.”  

_user2 remarked: “When he was alive, you didn’t ensure his financial comfort. Now you want to play the guardian?”  

_user3 observed: “This could fuel more drama in the future.”  

_user4 suggested: “His earnings should go to his son and wife.”  

_user5 added: “You didn’t help him with royalties while he was alive.”  


The ongoing discussions highlight the complexity of the relationships and responsibilities in the music industry, especially in the face of tragic loss.