Police in Lagos State released musician and label owner, Azeez Fashola, (Naira Marley) and Samson Balogun (Sam Larry) from custody on Friday after meeting their bail conditions.

The duo had been in police custody over October’s mysterious death of rapper, musician and songwriter Ilerioluwa Aloba (Mohbad).

The police spokesman in Lagos State, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed their release in a statement he issued on Friday at Ikeja.

Naira Marley, Sam Larry and two others were arraigned before a Yaba Magistrate’s Court on Oct. 6 over their alleged involvement in the death of Mohbad and were remanded in police custody.

The court granted them bail on Nov. 6 in the sum of N20 million with three responsible sureties in like sum.

The magistrate, Adeola Olatunbosun, ruled that the defendants should submit their passports and report weekly to the State’s Criminal Investigation Department at Panti, Yaba.

“Naira Marley and Sammy Larry, having met their bail conditions, have been released from custody,’’ Mr Hundeyin stated.

Born in Lagos on Jan. 3, 1996, Mohbad died in mysterious circumstances on Sept. 12, 2023, and was buried the following day.

His death sparked nationwide protests making the Lagos State government order the exhumation of the body for a coroner’s inquest.

Mohbad was said to have attended a concert at Ikorodu, Lagos State, on Sept.10, where he sustained injuries in a fracas.

Among those the police questioned over his death were the late singer’s father, mother, sisters, brother, friends, wife and manager.

The police also invited a childhood friend of Mohbad, Ibrahim Owodunni (Primeboy), for questioning.

Police detained Naira Marley and Sam Larry over their alleged roles in the singer’s death, as they were reported to have been bullying the rapper.

Mohbad was formerly signed to Naira Marley’s Marlian Records but left the label in 2022.

Addressing a news conference in Ikeja on Oct. 5 on preliminary findings on Mohbad’s death, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Idowu Owohunwa, named an auxiliary nurse, Feyisayo Ogedengbe, as the prime suspect.

 Ogedengbe was reported to have injected the deceased thrice in his home on Sept. 12 before he started vomiting. 

Mr Owohunwa said 26 persons had been interviewed concerning Mohbad’s death.

 According to Mr Owohunwa, Mohbad was taken to the hospital lifeless and was declared dead on Sept. 12 by the attending physicians.

 He said the auxiliary nurse was called to inject the singer at his home by Mohbad’s friend, Ayobami Isiaka, aka “Spending’’. 

Ogedengbe gave the singer three injections that were believed to have resulted in a series of events that led to his death, the police commissioner said.

 He said that Primeboy and Mohbad went to the concert together on Sept. 10, and they engaged in a violent altercation after the show.

 The ensuing fight from the altercation caused harm to the late singer.

 “The management of the injury subsequently resulted in his death,” Mr Owohunwa said.

(NAN)