Nigerian musician Azeez Fashola, better known as Naira Marley, has spoken publicly for the first time since the Yaba Magistrate Court ruled that he had no involvement in the death of fellow artist Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Marley expressed his pain and frustration over how he was treated in the aftermath of Mohbad’s passing. He stated that despite their past disagreements, they had settled their issues before Mohbad’s untimely death.
Marley noted that the situation had been worsened by delays in Mohbad’s burial and the changing narratives surrounding the cause of death.
He wrote, “I never thought silence could be so loud. I never thought someone I called my brother, someone I protected, would leave this world with my name in his shadow. I have carried this weight, this pain, this shame that was never mine to bear.
“We, as Marlians, were not perfect. We had to grow, we had to adapt.
“Mistakes were made, but they were business-never war. I made peace with Mohbad. We understood each other beyond the noise, beyond the misunderstandings. And you know this.
“Yet when he took his last breath in you all”s arms, you looked at the world and pointed at me. You let them tear me apart. You let them call me a killer while you sat there, knowing the truth. Now you tell the story?
“I welcomed you all into my home. I gave you my trust. And yet, my brother is gone, still not buried, and that is your fault. Telling the truth from the beginning would have given him the rest he deserves. Regardless I will always be there for him.
“You never thought I would survive. You never thought I would walk through the fire and face my people, maybe you hoped I would stay a fugitive. You thought I would run. Instead, I stood before the justice system, spent time in jail, and faced everything head-on while you changed the story, again and again.
“But God sees all. The truth does not shake. The lies will fade, and time will reveal everything.
I have been broken, but I am not destroyed. And when the truth finally speaks, I pray your heart is strong enough to bear it.”
Following the court ruling on Tuesday, Marley, along with his associate Sam Larry and another individual known as Prime Boy, were found to have no case to answer regarding Mohbad’s death. However, the court ruled that an auxiliary nurse and Mohbad’s friend, Ayobami, would be prosecuted for alleged reckless and negligent actions.
Since Mohbad’s tragic passing, Naira Marley has been a central figure in public discussions, with many people blaming him for the death despite his repeated denials. The controversy stemmed from Mohbad’s previous association with Marlian Music, the record label owned by Marley. The young artist had left the label following a dispute, leading to public tensions between them.
His sudden death in September 2023 caused widespread outrage and calls for justice. Many speculated about the circumstances surrounding his passing, leading to increased pressure on Marley and others linked to Mohbad’s past.
