Popular Nigerian musician Abdulazeez Fashola popularly known as Naira Marley, has no case to answer over the death of another musician, Aloba Oladimeji lleriOluwa also known as Mohbad.
The verdict was given by of Magistrates Court sitting in Sabo, Yaba area of Lagos.
Music promoter, Samson Balogun Eletu also known as Sam Larry, was also acquitted over the death of of 27 year old Mohbad in September 2023.
The story has gripped the Nigerian music scene and it’s followers for over a year and a half.
Up and coming artiste Mohbad was considered one of the stars of future in the industry with tracks like Ponmo, Peace, Beast and Sorry.
But that future was cut short when he died on September 12th, 2023 after catching an infection.
He had been signed to Naira Marley’s record label, Marlian Records but left in 2022.
Following his demise a year later, it emerged MohBad accused his manager, Naira Marley, of assault and stated that his former boss ordered people to beat him up after he announced his intention to employ a different manager to handle his music and business affairs.
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He went on to file a police report in June 2023 alleging that Samson Erinfolami Balogun, a music promoter nicknamed “Sam Larry” and a known associate of Marley’s, had assaulted him and destroyed some of his property.
In the report, MohBad said that Larry had interrupted a video shoot, leading a group of 15 men armed with firearms and cutlasses to assault him.
A police investigation led to the arrest of the two accused, following his death.
But in his ruling today, Magistrate Ejiro Kubenje said the two men on trial have no case to answer.
The court also freed Owodunni Ibrahim also known as Primeboy and Mohbad’s former Manager, Opere Babatunde.
The court did admit that though documented accounts of unlawful assault on Mohbad were actually carried out by Naira Marley and Sam Larry, these accusations do not make the duo criminally responsible for the death of Mohbad.
The Director of Public Prosecutions however said it shall be prosecuting Feyisayo Ogedengbe, the untrained auxiliary nurse who treated Mohbad for his infection as well as one of his friends, Ayobami Sadiq for the offence of Reckless and Negligent Acts
The duo will be prosecuted at the Magistrates Court.
(Editor: Oloyede Oworu)
