Nigerian singer Naira Marley has given a detailed account of the circumstances surrounding the demise of his former signee, Ilerioluwa Aloba, also known as Mohbad, addressing issues of outstanding royalties while denying allegations of bullying or any involvement in the late singer’s death.

The Music record label boss in a lengthy video released on YouTube, said at the time of Mohbad’s death,  he was in Amsterdam and learnt of his demise online.

He said he was out of the country to work, spend time with his family and kids, and also shoot a video with Zinoleesky. He disclosed that Zinoleesky was in Montenegro and had taken a long drive to pick him up, after which they went to eat, only to get information from someone around them that “Mohbad was dead.”

He stated that he neither killed nor bullied Mohbad, expressing surprise that blogs and sections of the public were suggesting and posting old videos that he orchestrated the singer’s death, noting that he also saw claims from a blogger that Mohbad could have died of ear infection, saying that the comments “were all lies.’’

He said that online pressure didn’t allow him to mourn properly, but they still tried to shoot a music video, and later saw the Sam Larry video, with petitions filed from both Sam Larry and Mohbad’s sides.

To back his defence, he displayed screenshots of messages between himself and Mohbad and time stamps of the messages, showing he advised him on his music career, and also shared parts of their chats where Mohbad told him he had been with “Crack or Ice,” better known as crystal ice, “that stress,” and how he advised him to stay away from it, saying, “I have seen what it has done to people in the streets of UK.” 

He stated, “He told me he was taking it with his crackhead friend, and I just advised him, saying so many pains and stress pulled him to that, but said he will stay out of it.”

On the issue of royalties, the Opotoyi crooner maintained that Mohbad’s earnings were untouched. He disclosed that the late singer once withdrew $72,000 from a digital streaming platform without proper clearance, which led to further payouts being withheld. However, he stressed that the funds remain available to Mohbad’s family.

Marley explained, “Mohbad withdrew $72,000 from a DSP partner. All these monies he took were not his. We had to hold some of his royalty payments till he returned the money he took. Our business was plain, even though we had accountants. We did 50-50; this is the first time I’m saying it. I paid for everything, and then we split 50-50.” 

He added that Marlian Music contacted Mohbad’s attorney and was ready to hand over the late singer’s royalties to whomever the family or court appoints.

He further denied long-standing claims that he or members of his label bullied Mohbad, recalling instead times when he had supported him, such as during his battles with depression, suicide attempts, and health struggles, where he even paid for CT brain scans and intervened in disputes with his manager and distributor.

He recounted that he personally spoke to the late Mohbad’s parents and encouraged them to intervene, presenting himself as someone who tried to guide and protect him rather than harm him.

The singer expressed frustration over the backlash he faced after voluntarily returning to Nigeria to cooperate with investigations, only to be detained for two months. He described the experience as unfair, stressing that he had always been willing to clear his name.

In closing his narration, the entertainer revisited an old statement released days after Mohbad’s death, questioning why people who claimed to fight for the late singer’s royalties and catalogue for his son, Liam, showed little concern for his well-being when he was alive. 

He reiterated that none of Mohbad’s funds had been tampered with and that his estate would be rightfully handed over to his family through proper legal channels.