Nearly two years after the sudden death of Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, better known as Mohbad, the case continues to cast a long shadow over Africa’s music scene. Now, Afropop star Naira Marley ; once accused of playing a role in the tragedy, is calling on authorities to take fresh action.
In a new interview, Marley, born Azeez Fashola, said he wants police to “re-arrest everybody involved” in Mohbad’s death, which sparked protests, candlelight vigils, and an outpouring of grief across Nigeria in September 2023.
“I came back to Nigeria to support the police with the investigation because fingers were pointing at me,” Marley said. “I showed them everything, yet I was detained for two months at Panti. Even officers told me I had nothing to do with it, but they said it was for my protection.”
Mohbad, just 27 at the time, was one of Afrobeats’ brightest young voices known for his street anthems and raw, emotional sound. His passing ignited anger not just over his fate, but over wider issues in Nigeria’s entertainment industry: bullying, exploitation, and the pressures facing young artists.

Marley, who founded Marlian Records, had been at the center of the storm. His name trended for months as fans accused him and his associates of mistreating Mohbad before his exit from the label. But Marley maintains his innocence, insisting he had been away from Nigeria for more than a year before the tragedy.
“Justice hasn’t been served yet,” he said. “If you ask me, the police should arrest everybody again. Everybody that was involved.”
The singer also addressed one of the more delicate issues; Mohbad’s finances. He claimed that money made by the late artist remains untouched. “Since Mohbad passed away, we have not touched any of his money. It’s safe and will be handed over to whoever the family or the court appoints to manage his estate,” Marley said.
An autopsy was conducted in late 2023, but results have not been released publicly. That silence has only deepened suspicion and frustration among Mohbad’s fans, many of whom continue to demand answers.
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What began as a personal tragedy has now become one of Nigeria’s most closely watched cultural controversies; a story about music, power, and the fight for accountability in a booming industry still learning how to protect its stars.