By Fasuyi Tolulope Samuel
Nigerian singer, Abdulazeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, has called on the Coroner Court in Lagos State to investigate many over the death of former label signee, Mihbad.
He mentioned that Omowunmi, the wife of the late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad, along with 14 others who were present at his residence 48 to 72 hours before his death should be investigated.
Naira Marley’s lawyer, Olusola Okuwobi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday following the singer’s virtual testimony before Magistrate T.A. Shotobi at the Ikorodu Coroner Court.
The testimony was given on Friday as part of the ongoing inquest into Mohbad’s death. According to Okuwobi, Naira Marley maintained that he was out of the country when Mohbad passed away on September 12, 2023. He also insisted that he bore no ill will toward the deceased.
“Azeez Adeshina Fashola, aka Naira Marley, testified before the court virtually, giving his precise and succinct testimony. He stated that at the time of Mohbad’s unfortunate death, he was out of the country,” the statement read.
“He further stated that he had no animosity towards Mohbad before his death. He related the status of the contract that subsisted between himself and the deceased.
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Naira Marley urged the coroner to look beyond the suspects identified by the police and social media, and instead interrogate Omowunmi and the 14 others who were present at the house 48 to 72 hours before the singer’s passing.”
Okuwobi also noted that Naira Marley accused those present during Mohbad’s final moments of attempting to evade accountability by circulating an old video. He alleged that these individuals were aware that Mohbad had previously apologized for the video and had been forgiven before leaving the Marlian Music record label.
Meanwhile, a group of Nigerians in the diaspora under the banner of Concerned Nigerian Citizens in Diaspora has called on law enforcement authorities to reopen the investigation.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Victoria Janolewsky-Peters, the group emphasized the need for a thorough inquiry into the individuals who were with Mohbad before his death, including his brother, Adura Aloba.
“We urge the officers of the Nigeria Police homicide section to look into the direction Naira Marley has pointed out during his testimony under oath. We believe it is important for the police to invite and interrogate Mohbad’s brother, Adura Aloba, and his wife, Omowunmi, who was responsible for his well-being and has given multiple contradictory accounts of what happened, as well as the other individuals present at his home,” the statement read.“
Based on the testimony of the ex-label boss of the deceased, we call on the Nigeria Police Force to thoroughly re-investigate the suspected homicide of Mohbad.”
Mohbad, a former signee of Marlian Music, died at the age of 27 under controversial circumstances. Prior to his death, he had publicly alleged that he was assaulted multiple times by gangs linked to Naira Marley and his associate, Samson Eletu, popularly known as Sam Larry.
However, on February 25, a court acquitted Naira Marley, Sam Larry, Owodunni Ibrahim (Primeboy), and Mohbad’s former manager, Opere Babatunde, of any involvement in the singer’s death.
