Court Discharges Naira Marley, Sam Larry, Primeboy in Mohbad’s death case, Declares Them Innocent

Israel Adeleke 

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that a Magistrate Court in Sabo, Yaba, Lagos State, has discharged Abdulazeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, in connection with the death of Aloba Oladimeji Ilerioluwa, widely known as Mohbad.

OTN News further reports that others also freed by the court include music promoter Samson Balogun Eletu, known as Sam Larry; Owodunni Ibrahim, known as Primeboy; and Mohbad’s former manager, Opere Babatunde.

Acting on the legal advice of the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), Magistrate Ejiro Kubenje, on Tuesday, declared that Naira Marley had no case to answer.

Meanwhile, the DPP has confirmed that it will prosecute the auxiliary nurse, Feyisayo Ogedengbe, who treated Mohbad, and one of the late singer’s friends, Ayobami Sadiq. 

OTN News gathered that the two who were being charged with reckless and negligent acts, in violation of Section 251 (e) of the Criminal Law, Ch C.17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015, will face trial at the Magistrate Court.

OTN News recalls that on the 12th of September 2023, MohBad died in Lagos, at the age of 27, and it was reported by the Nigeria Police Force that the auxiliary nurse, Feyisayo Ogedengbe, administered a Tetanus vaccine on him, which she was later arrested by the Lagos State Police Command, and found to be an unlicensed nurse on 19 September 2023.

Furthermore, OTN News also recalls that on 5 October 2022, MohBad told the public, "I’m dying inside, and being physically assaulted under Naira Marley’s label".

However, shortly after MohBad made the claim, Naira Marley dismissed, MohBad's claim, 'adding that he was "high" when making the assault allegation'.

On 6 October 2022, Mohbad gave details to his claim, saying "Naira Marley asked his boys to beat me for demanding a new manager".

On 25 October 2022, MohBad terminated his contract with Marlian Music signed by his lawyer O.M. Falade, who issued the document to Marlian Music. 

In the document issued to Marlian Music, Mohbad claims he was physically attacked violently and has received life threats from Naira Marley. The document also stated that Marlian Music has not fulfilled the terms of the contract signed in 2019, and they had also failed to pay all royalties due to MohBad, which made Imole terminated his contract with the record label.

Thereafter, Mohbad was pronounced dead, after Feyisayo Ogedengbe, allegedly administered a Tetanus vaccine on him, which the real cause of his death remains a misery.

Subsequently, following his death, MohBad's management publicly requested the release of MohBad's royalties with Naira Marley's Marlian Music. 

OTN News further recalls that on 22 September 2023, Nigerian journalist, Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo claimed that "Mohbad wrote 97% percent of all Marlian Music, and she discovered that as of the time she was filling this report, MohBad is worth ₦700M roughly around $690,000. Naira Marley's Marlian Music owes him ₦300M in song royalties"

In rest to the singer, Nigerian trooped out in mass, and demand for justice for the late singer, which made #Justice4MohBad became a social movement and protest following his death and subsequent allegations about the events that led to it.

The campaigners moved from social media using the #Justice4MohBad hashtag to an organized candlelight procession in Lagos held on 21 September 2023 commencing from Lekki Phase 1 Gate at 5 pm and terminating at Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island, Lagos at 8 pm, where a musical concert was held, with Zlatan, Falz, Davido, and Shallipopi among others in attendance. 

OTN News understands that at that time Nigerians all-over the world held a last respect candle night for the late singer, with Netizens using the #Justice4MohBad, as a voice for justice.

Furthermore, on 18 September 2023, Marlian Music catalogues which include Naira Marley and Zinoleesky were placed on ban from airplay by several radio and television stations in Nigeria, including Splash FM in Ibadan, who also ordered the ban to take effect across other radio stations in Oyo State.

On 20 September 2023, Fresh 106.9 FM Ado Ekiti reportedly banned the airplay of all songs released under the Marlian Music and urged other radio stations to also ban their records.

Also, Ebonyi Broadcasting Television banned Naira Marley Marlian's recordings and evacuation of Marlian's studio albums from their studio. Invicta 98.9 FM also directed its employees to stop airplay of all the songs produced by the label effectively, as other radio stations also placed a ban on all the label music.

OTN News also recalls that on 18 September 2023, Fathia Entertainment announced the cancellation of Zinoleesky's US tour, which was to be held in 10 cities including Washington DC, New York, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Boston, and Indianapolis, beginning on 30 September 2023. A day after, Nigerian record producer Samklef set out to see all of Marlian's international shows get canceled following the death of MohBad.

Furthermore, Nigerians who identified themselves as Marlians were allegedly beaten, and also those who refuses to use belt.

However, on Tuesday, 25, 2025, Naira Marley, Sam Larry, PrimeBoy, and Babatunde, were declared innocent and discharged by the Magistrate Court in Sabo, Yaba, Lagos State, making Nigerians saying "Don't Let Anyone Kill You, Run For Your Dear Live"