Musician Naira Marley, born Azeez Fashola, has provided a detailed account of his financial dealings with the late singer Mohbad, clarifying that all royalty payments from Mohbad’s music remain available for proper allocation.
Mohbad (Ilerioluwa Aloba) died on September 12, 2023, at the age of 27. In a video released on YouTube on Wednesday, Naira Marley said that Marlian Music, the record label he founded, had maintained full transparency in handling Mohbad’s royalties.
“Not long after that, in December 2022, Mohbad withdrew $72,000 from a DSP partner. All these monies he took were not his. We had to hold some of his royalty payment till he returned the money he took,” Naira Marley said. He added that the label had contacted Mohbad’s lawyer and confirmed that the royalties would be distributed to whoever the family or court designates.
Naira Marley provided a chronology of financial interactions, noting that Mohbad had also independently selected his manager in July 2020 and agreed on a 10 per cent commission, which the singer described as “a transparent business arrangement.”
He stressed that financial transparency remained central to Marlian Music’s operations. “Our business is plain, even though we got accountants. We did 50-50; this is the first time I’m saying it. I paid for anything and everything and then we split 50-50,” he said.
The musician also recounted his actions to support Mohbad’s well-being, including paying for medical checks and medications after Mohbad experienced personal challenges.
In addressing allegations related to Mohbad’s death, Naira Marley reiterated that he had no involvement and that those present 24 to 48 hours prior to the singer’s passing should have been the focus of investigation.
“I’ve never sent anybody to bully him,” he said.
The video follows the February 2025 acquittal of Naira Marley, promoter Sam Larry, Primeboy, and Mohbad’s former manager, Babatunde Opere, by a Magistrate’s Court in Yaba, Lagos. Earlier, the Coroner’s Court in Ikorodu had recommended the prosecution of Feyisayo Ogedengbe, the auxiliary nurse who administered an injection to Mohbad without a doctor’s prescription.
Naira Marley concluded that all royalty and financial matters concerning Mohbad remain intact and available for lawful allocation: “Marlian Music had contacted Mohbad’s lawyer and was ready to give the late musician’s royalties to whoever the family or court picks.”
