Nigerian artist Azeez Fashola, widely known as Naira Marley, has spoken publicly through a nearly two-hour documentary titled My Side of the Story, released on the Marlian Music YouTube channel. In the film, Marley provides his account of the events surrounding the death of his former signee, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, popularly called Mohbad.
The documentary, released on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, traces Mohbad’s time with Marlian Music between 2019 and 2022. Marley describes their relationship as one built on support, highlighting equal royalty sharing, medical assistance, and personal efforts to help the late singer. He firmly denied claims of bullying or coercion, adding that Mohbad independently appointed his own manager in 2020.
According to Marley, tensions began to grow in mid-2020 when he cautioned Mohbad over alleged drug use, particularly crack cocaine. He also recounted the February 2022 NDLEA raid, during which Mohbad accused him and others in what Marley described as a psychotic state, before later apologizing privately.
By late 2022, the relationship had broken down. Mohbad accused Marley of violence and non-payment of royalties, eventually terminating his contract through his lawyers. Marley, however, countered with payment records and claimed that Mohbad had withdrawn $72,000 from label accounts. Their final meeting, he said, occurred on October 4, 2022.
Mohbad’s sudden death on September 12, 2023, at just 27 years old, triggered widespread outrage and nationwide protests. Allegations were directed at Marley and his associate, Samson “Sam Larry” Balogun. Marley, who was in Amsterdam at the time, insisted he had no involvement and maintained that those who were with Mohbad in his final moments should be questioned. He also defended Sam Larry, asserting his belief in his innocence.
After voluntarily returning to Nigeria, Marley spent two months in detention, which he described as wrongful. In February 2025, a Yaba Magistrate Court cleared him, Sam Larry, and others of any role in the case, instead directing prosecution toward auxiliary nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe and Mohbad’s friend, Ayobami Sadiq, for negligence in administering unauthorized injections.
Marley concluded by affirming that Mohbad’s royalties remain untouched and disclosed that Marlian Music has taken steps to transfer the funds to the late singer’s family or any court-recognized beneficiary.
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