Naira Marley participated in the court proceedings virtually on Friday, providing testimony about his colleague’s passing and attempting to clear himself of all allegations made against him. The Nigerian singer appeared before a Magistrate Court in Ikorodu as part of the Coroner’s inquest into the cause of Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad’s death.
During his testimony, Naira Marley denied any involvement in threatening or mistreating the late Mohbad, referencing a police report that cleared him of those accusations. He explained to Magistrate Adedayo Shotobi that he had signed Mohbad to his record label, Marlian Records, with an agreement to produce four albums. However, the albums were never completed due to ongoing disagreements between Mohbad and his manager, Opere Babatunde, before Mohbad left the label.
The Coroner adjourned the proceedings until April 11 to hear the testimony of Sam Larry. Additionally, the Coroner directed the pathologist who conducted an independent autopsy on Mohbad to submit a copy of the findings to the court and the Chief Coroner prior to the next hearing.
Regarding the viral video in which the late Mohbad claimed that Naira Marley and the Marlian crew should be held responsible if anything happened to him, the witness testified that both Mohbad and his parents later apologized. According to Naira Marley, the video was made while Mohbad was under the influence of drugs. Marley also denied any involvement in Mohbad’s death, stating that the last time he saw the artist was a year before his passing and that he was not even in the country when Mohbad died.
The lawyer representing Mohbad confirmed to the Coroner that there had indeed been a dispute between Marlian Records and his client over unpaid royalties. The second witness, Oluwasanmi Falade, the lawyer for the late Mohbad, criticized Naira Marley’s claim that there had been no dispute between them. Falade also testified that Mohbad had been attacked by music promoter Sam Larry at Lekki Beach. Following this, the late artist reported the incident to the Force Headquarters, which attempted to arrest Sam Larry twice without success.
After hearing the testimonies, Magistrate Shotobi summoned Sam Larry to appear before the Coroner’s Court on the next adjourned date. The Coroner also instructed the involved parties to confirm the whereabouts of Mohbad’s driver so a witness summons could be issued for him to testify as well.