Nigerian singer Naira Marley has testified before a Magistrate Court in Ikorodu as part of the Coroner’s inquest investigating the cause of death of Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.
Appearing virtually on Friday, Naira Marley shared his account of events while distancing himself from allegations linking him to his former signee’s death.
During his testimony before Magistrate Adedayo Shotobi, Marley revealed that he had signed Mohbad to his record label, Marlian Records, under a contract to produce four albums. However, he stated that disagreements between Mohbad and his manager, Opere Babatunde, prevented the completion of those albums before the singer’s departure from the label.
Denying any involvement in threatening or harming Mohbad, Marley cited a police report that, according to him, cleared him of such accusations. He dismissed claims of harassment as mere speculation.
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 claimed that both Mohbad and his parents later apologized for the video, attributing it to the late singer’s state of mind under the influence of drugs.
The singer also insisted there was no ongoing dispute between him and Mohbad, emphasizing that the last time he saw the late artist was a year before his passing. He added that he was not even in the country when Mohbad died.
However, Mohbad’s lawyer, Oluwasanmi Falade, countered Marley’s claim, testifying that there was indeed a dispute between Mohbad and Marlian Records over unpaid royalties. He stated that, at Mohbad’s request, he had repeatedly written to the label regarding the matter but never received a response. He also confirmed that the dispute was now the subject of litigation at the Federal High Court.
Falade further revealed that Mohbad had reported an alleged assault by music promoter Sam Larry at Lekki Beach to the police. Despite police efforts, attempts to arrest Sam Larry had been unsuccessful.
Following the testimonies, Magistrate Shotobi summoned Sam Larry to appear before the Coroner’s Court at the next hearing on April 11. The Coroner also instructed parties to verify the address of Mohbad’s driver so that a witness summons could be issued for his testimony.
Additionally, the court directed the pathologist who conducted an independent autopsy on Mohbad to submit a copy of his findings to both the Coroner’s Court and the Chief Coroner before the next hearing.
The inquest continues as authorities seek to uncover the circumstances surrounding Mohbad’s death.
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