
Music artiste Naira Marley testified virtually before a Magistrate Court in Ikorodu on Friday during the Coroner’s inquest into the death of Ilerioluwa Aloba, known as Mohbad.
Marley told Magistrate Adedayo Shotobi that Mohbad had signed a four-album contract with his label, Marlian Records, but the albums were never completed due to ongoing disputes between the late singer and his manager, Opere Babatunde.
Denying any threats or harassment against Mohbad, Marley cited a police report that cleared him of wrongdoing. He dismissed the allegations as baseless, claiming they existed only in people's imaginations.
Regarding a viral video in which Mohbad accused him and his crew of being responsible for any harm to him, Marley testified that Mohbad and his parents later apologized, attributing the video to the singer’s drug-induced state.
Marley also insisted he had no disputes with Mohbad and was not involved in his death, stating he last saw the singer a year before his passing and was not in the country at the time.
However, Mohbad’s lawyer, Oluwasanmi Falade, contradicted Marley’s claims, confirming that a dispute existed over unpaid royalties. He said he wrote multiple letters to Marlian Records on Mohbad’s behalf but received no response. The matter is now before the Federal High Court.
Falade also testified that Mohbad was attacked at Lekki Beach by music promoter Sam Larry. Following his advice, Mohbad reported the incident to the police, who twice attempted but failed to arrest Larry.
After hearing the testimonies, Magistrate Shotobi summoned Sam Larry to testify at the next hearing on April 11. The Coroner also ordered that Mohbad’s driver be served a witness summons and directed the pathologist who conducted the autopsy to submit his report to the court and the Chief Coroner.