Afrobeats sensation Naira Marley, has been apprehended as part of an ongoing inquiry initiated in September to unravel the circumstances surrounding the tragic passing of Nigerian singer Mohbad, as announced by the Lagos State police on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday evening.
Benjamin Hundeyin, spokesperson for the Lagos State Police in Nigeria, conveyed, “Azeez Fashola aka Naira Marley has been taken into police custody for questioning,” along with the hashtag #JusticeforMohbad.
Moments before this announcement, Naira Marley, who boasts nearly 5 million followers on the same social media platform, disclosed that he had “returned to Lagos to assist the authorities with the ongoing investigation.” He emphasized the importance of his involvement in the case, stating, “It’s important for me to play a role in the Imole (Mohbad’s nickname) case. I will be meeting the police in the hope that the truth will be revealed and that justice will prevail.”
Mohbad, whose real name was Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba and known for hit songs like “Feel Good,” passed away in Lagos on September 12 at the age of 27, under circumstances that remain unclear, leading to the launch of a special investigation.
Mohbad’s demise stirred emotions in Nigeria, the continent’s most populous nation, where he enjoyed immense popularity. Moreover, numerous accounts from fans and associates alleged that he had faced harassment and physical threats for months from influential figures within the music industry.
Mohbad’s career took off in 2019 when he signed with the prominent Marlian music label owned by the renowned rapper Naira Marley. H犀利士 owever, their collaboration came to an end in 2022 amid escalating tensions. In recent days, a considerable number of fans have accused the rapper and his team of involvement in Mohbad’s death, with an online petition amassing over 250,000 signatures.
Naira Marley, who has released several statements, expressed his devastation over the loss of “a brother” and a “friend” while he was abroad and refuted the accusations against him and his team.