Musician, Azeez Fashola, also known as Naira Marley, has shared his side of the story that led to the death of his former signee, Promise Aloba, aka Mohbad.
Naira Marley made the disclosure in a documentary of about two hours on Wednesday, narrating how his ex-signee began his musical journey in his label and how he eventually died.
According to him, he never bullied Mohbad nor killed the ‘Ask About Me’ and ‘KPK’ crooner.
Mohbad died on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at the age of 27.
In February, a Magistrate’s Court in Yaba, Lagos, acquitted Naira Marley and music promoter Sam Larry (Samson Balogun) of blame over Mohbad’s death.
The court also freed Primeboy (Ibrahim Owodunni) and Mohbad’s former manager, Babatunde Opere.
In July, the Coroner’s Court sitting in Ikorodu recommended the criminal prosecution of Feyisayo Ogedengbe, the auxiliary nurse who treated Mohbad shortly before he died.
The inquest was set up by the state government to unravel the circumstances that led to the singer’s death.
Magistrate Adedayo Shotobi said the nurse acted with gross negligence by administering an injection to the singer without a doctor’s prescription.
Although the court ruled out foul play or homicide in the case, it held that the actions of the nurse were both “unlawful and professionally negligent”.
However, speaking in the new video, Naira Marley alleged that on June 7, 2020, he learnt that Mohbad was using some illegal substance called Ice.
“He told me he was taking a substance which I finally found out to be Ice (crack). I wasn’t angry, I called him and advised him and told him about the danger because I know the damage it has done to people I know from the United Kingdom. He said he got into it because of stress, but said he would stay out of it. I didn’t force him to do anything,” the singer said.
The japa crooner also showed evidence that Mohbad picked his own manager in July 2020.
“He was planning to pay Tunde 25 per cent. I said ‘No, 10 per cent. My things are always plain with him. I try as much as possible to be transparent with every ounce of our dealings, and it’s all love.
“Our business is plain, even though we got accountants. We did 50-50; this is the first time I’m saying it. I paid for anything and everything and then we split 50-50,” he said.
He also debunked the rumour of Mohbad being afraid to visit the hospital, showing a WhatsApp chat from November 2020 where he visited a hospital.
On February 24, 2022, officers from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) raided the Marlian house and took Zinoleesky and one Subomi.
Naira Marley, who said he was in Sweden at the time, noted that Mohbad was taken along because he had a physical altercation with the officers.
“Mohbad went live (on Instagram) under duress shortly after he was released. While having a panic attack he accused me and others,” he said.
“During the live session, Mohbad said, “’If I die, everybody na Marlian Music, Naira Marley kill me.’
“On their way to the hospital, he also accused his girl, Zino, a lot of people. He even accused our wives. Shortly after that, whilst in a vulnerable state of psychosis, he made a statement calling Zino a snitch,” said Naira Marley.