Nigerian singer, Azeez Adeshina Fashola (Naira Marley), has finally made a public statement on the controversies surrounding the death of his former signee, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, known professionally as Mohbad, and the alleged involvement of music promoter Sam Larry.
In a viral video making the rounds online, Naira Marley appeared emotional as he spoke about the tragic loss. He described Mohbad’s death as ‘premeditated,’ hinting at deeper motives behind the incident rather than it being just an unfortunate accident.
Mohbad died on September 12, 2023. His death sparked nationwide outrage, street protests, and the trending #Justice4Mohbad campaign. His body was later exhumed for autopsy as police investigations intensified.
During that period, both Marley and Sam Larry faced heavy scrutiny amid allegations of bullying and events believed to have contributed to the singer’s untimely demise. Although he has always maintained his innocence, this new video stands out as Marley’s most direct and heartfelt attempt to clear his name since the saga began.
In what is being termed Naira Marley’s ‘Confession,’ he directly addressed the now-viral video involving Sam Larry and Mohbad.
He stated, “Sam Larry video came out, that video came out, that video with Sam Larry and Mohbad. My first time seeing that video was when we all saw the video I’m like what the hell what’s this? But I wasn’t fast to judge like everybody I knew that video was not on that day because Sam Larry was not in Nigeria too.
“Sam Larry travelled out of Nigeria. He was in Dubai, Kenya or all these countries. Then that’s what made me ask question. Normally I was already angry like ah what? That’s what made me ask question like ah Sam Larry what’s up? He said nothing happened he just saw him he was explaining something he said he saw him people someone told me he was there he went there I don’t want to speak for him but I’m just saying.
“He said he went there and he saw him, he said he wants to collect his money, he said he tapped the chair but I didn’t touch him. I looked at the video again, he didn’t touch him for real but I can already see they’re posting my videos so I’m thinking why they’re posting Sam Larry why they’re posting this video now too this is not. Did he die there? That’s not!
“So I have to ask questions, I’m like okay what happened? He sent me a recording of Emerson Zlatan and Zlatan explained what happened to him like it did not happen he didn’t touch him even Zlatan was like thank you for listening to me. They went to eat after, he showed me a video of them eating after. I’m like hmm, so you guys are after…so what happened? he said no, I should look at the video properly it looks like a setup why they’re releasing the video now like they’re shooting a video why don’t they ask the cameraman to release the video or why don’t all the people there come to be witness for Mohbad.
“I’m like witness for Mohbad before? he said yeah, the police invited him. I’m like ah telling me the police invited him he went straight away he roasted me. Mohbad said they broke the camera um and Sam Larry it seems Sam Larry said he did not he should bring the camera. They called Mohbad to bring the camera, bring Zlatan, bring all the people at the video shoot, he didn’t come Sam Larry keep going back to the place because they keep telling him to come and eventually he said the whole petition that Mohbad is lying on him, the whole counter petition and um checking everything he was not lying he did write a counter petition and um Mohbad did not come the women did not come so I’m thinking let me see let me see.
“I’m that’s what I’m trying to tell you this is premeditated. Let me tell you why it’s premeditated because Mohbad said in a video that after I die is this what you guys want to be posting is this what you want to be posting you can hear the video you can hear the video for yourself this is video this is a voice recording between Mohbad and this girl.”
Naira Marley went further to share a voice clip of Mohbad’s conversation with his girlfriend. In the recording, Mohbad could be heard addressing Wunmi (his girl), criticising her over his phone custody, and her actions. The recording translation reads: “You will not say anything now you know how to go and call my mom to make her sad at me don’t worry you think I will forget everything where’s my other where’s my phone you can’t talk where’s my other phone where’s my phone now talk now it is not your phone my stoves are dead where’s my other phone. Yes, let me open the phone, let’s prepare the phone. Where is my other phone? Where is my old WhatsApp? We share the same iCloud with me and you, abi? but only what’s up where’s my line where’s everything.”