Naira Marley, one of the most popular and controversial Afrobeats stars in Nigeria, is currently in police custody for questioning over the death of his former protégé, MohBad. The singer, whose real name is Afeez Fashola, has denied any involvement in the mysterious death of MohBad, who was also a rising star in the Nigerian music scene. However, many fans and critics have accused him of having a hand in the tragedy, citing their bitter feud that erupted after MohBad left his label, Marlian Records, last year.
Who was MohBad?
MohBad, whose real name was Ilerioluwa Aloba, was a 27-year-old singer and rapper who rose to fame with his streetwise, sometimes lewd, lyrics and distinctive baritone voice. He was signed to Marlian Records in 2020, where he collaborated with Naira Marley on several hit songs, such as “Koma Jensun”, “Ponmo Sweet” and “Instagram”. He also released his debut EP, “Light”, in December 2020, which featured other artists like Davido, Lil Kesh and Naira Marley.
However, in 2022, MohBad announced that he had left Marlian Records and accused Naira Marley of cheating him out of his royalties and harassing him. He also claimed that Naira Marley had threatened to kill him if he ever spoke out against him. He released several diss tracks aimed at Naira Marley and his associates, such as “Marlians Are Trash”, “Naira Is A Fraud” and “Imole vs Soapy”. He also joined forces with another former Marlian Records artist, Zinoleesky, who had also left the label on bad terms.
How did MohBad die?
MohBad died on September 20, 2023, at a hospital in Lagos. The cause of his death is still unclear, but there are speculations that he was poisoned or overdosed on drugs. His family said that he had complained of stomach pains and vomiting before he was rushed to the hospital. They also said that he had been depressed and paranoid in the days leading up to his death.
His death sparked a huge outpouring of grief and anger among his fans, who demanded a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his demise. Many of them pointed fingers at Naira Marley and his associates, especially Sam Larry, a music promoter who had been seen with MohBad shortly before he fell ill. They accused them of having a motive to eliminate MohBad because of their rivalry and animosity.
What is the police doing?
The police have launched an investigation into MohBad’s death and have taken several people into custody for questioning. The most prominent among them are Naira Marley and Sam Larry, who were arrested on October 3, 2023, after they returned from abroad. They were arraigned before a magistrate court in Yaba, Lagos State, on October 4, 2023, where the police requested that they should be remanded in custody for 30 days while the investigation continued. However, the magistrate, Adeola Olatunbosun, ordered that they should be remanded for 21 days instead.
The police have also exhumed MohBad’s body for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of his death. The results of the autopsy have not yet been released to the public. The police have also declared Primeboy, a friend of MohBad who was with him on the day he died, wanted. They have offered a reward of N1 million to anyone with useful information that would lead to his arrest.
What is Naira Marley saying?
Naira Marley has maintained his innocence and said that he had nothing to do with MohBad’s death. He said that he had returned from abroad to assist with the investigation and to clear his name. He also said that he hoped that the truth would be uncovered and that justice would prevail. He expressed his condolences to MohBad’s family and fans and said that he still loved him as a brother.
He also denied the allegations that he had cheated and harassed MohBad while he was under his label. He said that he had always supported and mentored him and that he was proud of his achievements. He said that MohBad had left the label on his own accord and that he had no hard feelings towards him. He said that the diss tracks that MohBad had released against him were lies and that he did not take them personally.
What is the public reaction?
The public reaction to Naira Marley’s arrest has been mixed. Some people have expressed support for him and said that he was being framed by his enemies. They said that he was a victim of a smear campaign and that he deserved a fair trial. They also said that he was a talented and influential artist who had contributed a lot to the Nigerian music industry.
Others have expressed disdain for him and said that he was guilty of murder. They said that he was a bad influence on the youth and that he promoted immorality and violence through his music. They also said that he was a serial offender who had had previous brushes with the law. They recalled that in 2020, he had reached an out-of-court settlement with a man who accused him and his associates of assaulting him and stealing his car. They also recalled that in 2019, he had been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged internet fraud and money laundering.
What is the future for Naira Marley?
Naira Marley’s future is uncertain as he faces the possibility of being charged with murder or manslaughter if the police find enough evidence to link him to MohBad’s death. He could face a long prison sentence or even the death penalty if he is convicted. His music career could also suffer a major setback as he could lose fans, endorsements and opportunities.
However, Naira Marley could also be cleared of any wrongdoing if the police find no evidence to implicate him in MohBad’s death. He could then resume his music career and continue to make hit songs and perform at shows. He could also use the experience as a lesson and a motivation to improve his image and his relationship with his fellow artists.
Conclusion
Naira Marley is one of the most controversial Afrobeats stars in Nigeria, who is currently in police custody for questioning over the death of his former protégé, MohBad. The singer has denied any involvement in the mysterious death of MohBad, who was also a rising star in the Nigerian music scene. However, many fans and critics have accused him of having a hand in the tragedy, citing their bitter feud that erupted after MohBad left his label, Marlian Records, last year.
The police have launched an investigation into MohBad’s death and have taken several people into custody for questioning, including Naira Marley and Sam Larry, a music promoter who had been seen with MohBad shortly before he fell ill. The police have also exhumed MohBad’s body for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of his death.
The results of the autopsy have not yet been released to the public. The public reaction to Naira Marley’s arrest has been mixed, with some people expressing support for him and others expressing disdain for him. Naira Marley’s future is uncertain as he faces the possibility of being charged with murder or manslaughter if the police find enough evidence to link him to MohBad’s death. He could face a long prison sentence or even the death penalty if he is convicted. His music career could also suffer a major setback as he could lose fans, endorsements and opportunities. However, Naira Marley could also be cleared of any wrongdoing if the police find no evidence to implicate him in MohBad’s death. He could then resume his music career and continue to make hit songs and perform at shows. He could also use the experience as a lesson and a motivation to improve his image and his relationship with his fellow artists.
