Popular music artist Naira Marley testified virtually before a Magistrate Court in Ikorodu on Friday as part of the ongoing Coroner’s inquest into the death of singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, known as Mohbad.
During the proceedings, Naira Marley denied allegations of threatening or molesting the late singer, referring to a police report that had exonerated him. He stated that his record label, Marlian Records, had signed Mohbad for four albums, but none were completed due to persistent disagreements between the artist and his manager, Opere Babatunde.
Addressing a viral video in which Mohbad said he feared for his life and held Naira Marley and the Marlian crew responsible for any harm, Marley claimed that Mohbad and his parents later apologized, attributing the statement to the singer’s drug-induced state.
However, Mohbad’s lawyer, Oluwasanmi Falade, disputed Marley’s claims, affirming that there was indeed a dispute over unpaid royalties. Falade testified that he had sent multiple letters to Marlian Records regarding the issue but received no response, leading to an ongoing legal battle at the Federal High Court.
The lawyer also revealed that Mohbad had reported an assault by music promoter Sam Larry at Lekki Beach, and despite efforts by the police to apprehend Larry, they were unsuccessful.
Following these testimonies, Magistrate Adedayo Shotobi issued a summons for Sam Larry to appear in court on April 11. The Coroner also instructed the submission of an independent autopsy report and the summoning of Mohbad’s driver to provide additional testimony.
Outside the courtroom, Wahab Shittu (SAN), counsel to Mohbad’s family, stated that while no direct evidence has yet linked Naira Marley to the singer’s death, the inquest aims to establish the circumstances surrounding his passing. Shittu also requested that doctors from the hospitals where Mohbad was taken on the day of his death be summoned to testify about his condition.
The case is set to continue on April 11.
