IKORODU, Nigeria – Nigerian music artist Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, on Friday, March 21, 2025, testified before a Coroner’s Court in Ikorodu, Lagos State, as part of the inquest into the death of fellow musician Ilerioluwa Aloba, widely known as Mohbad.
The proceedings, presided over by Magistrate Adedayo Shotobi, sought to unravel the circumstances surrounding Mohbad’s death, which has sparked widespread public interest and speculation.
Naira Marley, who joined the hearing virtually, told the court that he signed Mohbad to his record label, Marlian Records, with the intention of producing four albums.
However, he claimed that the albums were never completed due to constant disagreements between Mohbad and his manager, Opere Babatunde.
Marley denied allegations that he threatened or molested the late artist, pointing to a police report that exonerated him of such charges.
“The allegations that I molested Mohbad exist only in people’s imaginations,” he said.
When questioned about a viral video in which Mohbad stated that Naira Marley and the Marlian crew should be held responsible if anything happened to him, Marley testified that the late artist and his parents had apologised for the video.
He claimed the statement was made while Mohbad was under the influence of drugs.
Marley insisted that there were no disputes between him and Mohbad and denied any involvement in the artist’s death.
He revealed that the last time he saw Mohbad was a year before his passing and that he was not in Nigeria at the time of Mohbad’s death.
A second witness, Oluwasanmi Falade, Mohbad’s lawyer, contradicted Naira Marley’s testimony, stating that there was indeed a dispute between Mohbad and Marlian Records over unpaid royalties.
Falade confirmed that he had written multiple times to Marlian Records on Mohbad’s behalf but received no response.
He noted that the matter is currently the subject of litigation before the Federal High Court.
Falade also testified that Mohbad had been attacked at Lekki Beach by music promoter Sam Larry.
Following the incident, Mohbad reported the matter to the Force Headquarters, which had attempted unsuccessfully to arrest Larry on two occasions.
After hearing the testimonies, Magistrate Shotobi summoned Sam Larry to appear before the Coroner’s Court at the next adjourned date.
The court also directed parties to confirm the address of Mohbad’s driver so that a witness summons could be issued to him.
Additionally, the Coroner ordered the pathologist who conducted an independent autopsy on Mohbad to forward a copy of the findings to the court and the Chief Coroner before the next hearing.
Outside the courtroom, Wahab Shittu (SAN), counsel to Mohbad’s family, told journalists that the testimonies so far have not provided clear evidence linking Naira Marley directly or indirectly to Mohbad’s death.
However, he expressed confidence that the inquest would reveal the sequence of events and circumstances surrounding the artist’s death.
Shittu emphasised the need to scrutinise the actions of individuals who were with Mohbad in the hours leading to his death.
He also revealed that he had applied to the Coroner to summon doctors from the two hospitals where Mohbad was treated on the day of his death.
Witness summons are expected to be issued to the doctors to testify about Mohbad’s condition when he was brought to their facilities.
