Nigerian artist Azeez Fashola, widely known as Naira Marley, has broken his silence following the Yaba Magistrate Court’s ruling that cleared him and others of any involvement in the death of singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly called Mohbad.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Marley expressed frustration over the controversy surrounding Mohbad’s passing, including the delay in his burial and the shifting narratives regarding the circumstances of his death.
He also revealed that despite their public differences, he and Mohbad had reconciled before the tragic incident.
“I never thought silence could be so loud. I never thought someone I called my brother, someone I protected, would leave this world with my name in his shadow,” he wrote. “I have carried this weight, this pain, this shame that was never mine to bear.”
Addressing accusations that linked him to Mohbad’s death, Marley maintained that their disagreements were business-related and not personal conflicts.
He expressed disappointment that people close to Mohbad allowed the public to vilify him despite knowing the truth.
“Mistakes were made, but they were business—never war. I made peace with Mohbad. We understood each other beyond the noise, beyond the misunderstandings. And you know this,” he stated.
He criticized those who, according to him, failed to reveal the truth earlier, which he believes contributed to Mohbad not receiving a timely burial. “My brother is gone, still not buried, and that is your fault. Telling the truth from the beginning would have given him the rest he deserves.”
Marley, who was arrested in connection with Mohbad’s death, said he chose to face the legal system rather than evade justice. “You never thought I would survive. You never thought I would walk through the fire and face my people. Maybe you hoped I would stay a fugitive. You thought I would run. Instead, I stood before the justice system, spent time in jail, and faced everything head-on while you changed the story, again and again.”
His statement follows the court’s decision on Tuesday, which found no case against him, his associate Sam Larry, or Prime Boy concerning Mohbad’s death. However, the court ruled that an auxiliary nurse who administered an injection to Mohbad, along with his friend Ayobami, would be prosecuted for reckless and negligent acts.
Since Mohbad’s sudden passing in September 2023, Naira Marley has been at the center of public scrutiny, with many accusing him of involvement despite his repeated denials. Mohbad, who was previously signed to Marley’s Marlian Music label, left the record company following a public fallout, leading to tensions between them.
