Here are 16 key things Naira Marley said about his relationship with the late Mohbad in a new tell-all interview.
On Wednesday, August 20, 2025, Nigerian music executive and artist Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, broke his long silence in an exclusive YouTube interview, where he addressed, in depth, his complicated relationship with the late singer Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.
The interview, which comes nearly two years after Mohbad’s tragic passing, has drawn widespread attention across Nigeria’s entertainment space. In it, Marley attempted to set the record straight, covering Mohbad’s entry into Marlian Music, contractual disputes, personal struggles, and the controversies that have trailed both of them since. Naira Marley denied bullying Mohabd and also said he had nothing to do with his death, among other things.
Here are 16 key things Naira Marley said about Mohbad in the interview, explained in detail:
1. Early signing and ambition (December 2019)
Naira Marley revealed that Mohbad was officially signed to his label Marlian Music in December 2019, the same time Zinoleesky and other fast-rising acts joined. He described Mohbad as “hungry and passionate,” highlighting early text exchanges where Mohbad expressed eagerness to drop back-to-back songs, dominate the charts, and even win awards within a short time. Marley said he launched Marlian Music to create a platform for young street artists who, like him, needed a chance to break through.
2. A “very easy” contract
According to Naira Marley, Mohbad’s contract was structured to be as fair as possible, with a 50/50 revenue split between the artist and the label. He explained that the label covered all costs, from studio time and production to promotion and welfare, while Mohbad was required to deliver four full-length albums. Marley insisted the contract was straightforward compared to the complex and restrictive deals often found in the Nigerian industry.
3. Financial transparency
The Marlian Music boss strongly denied accusations of financial exploitation. He claimed Mohbad had full access to records of earnings from streaming platforms, shows, and endorsements. “Everything was open,” he said, adding that there was no room for him to have lied or cheated Mohbad, as the finances were trackable and often handled through formal structures like Digital Service Providers (DSPs).
4. First concerns about drug use (June 2020)
Naira Marley said he first noticed signs of Mohbad’s alleged drug use around June 2020, particularly “ice” (crystal meth or crack). He claimed to have confronted Mohbad directly, warning him of the severe health and career risks tied to the substance. Marley said he felt responsible as both a label boss and elder figure to guide Mohbad away from destructive habits.
5. Mohbad’s apology and explanation
After being confronted, Marley said Mohbad apologized and explained that his drug use was a coping mechanism for the stress he was experiencing. Mohbad reportedly promised to quit, and Marley said he believed him at the time, though he remained concerned about the long-term impact on Mohbad’s mental and physical health.
6. A Lexus gift (November 2021)
In November 2021, Mohbad purchased a Lexus vehicle for himself. Naira Marley explained that the car marked a significant milestone in Mohbad’s journey, symbolizing his growth and rising success in the industry. Marley recalled, “13th of November 2021, that was when he got his car,” adding, “so he bought his Lexus, I was very happy on that day.” He clarified that the car was not a gift from him but Mohbad’s own purchase.
7. The NDLEA incident (February 2022)
Marley recalled the shock of hearing that Mohbad had been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on February 24, 2022. Although he was in Sweden at the time, Marley said he immediately cut his trip short and flew back to Nigeria. According to him, his priority was to stand by Mohbad, arrange legal help, and show him that he was not alone during the crisis.
8. Medical bills and support
Following Mohbad’s release, Marley said he took responsibility for his medical recovery. He claimed he paid for hospital bills, CT scans, and prescribed medication, emphasizing that he invested not just financially but emotionally in Mohbad’s well-being. He painted himself as someone genuinely committed to Mohbad’s health at a time when the singer was fragile.
9. Suicide attempt intervention (March 2022)
Marley shared a troubling account from March 2022, when he was in Puerto Rico and received a call that Mohbad had attempted suicide by trying to jump out of a window. Marley said he immediately phoned Mohbad, speaking to him at length and persuading him not to harm himself. He told Mohbad that suicide would not solve his problems and encouraged him to focus on his music and future instead.
10. Involving Mohbad’s parents
Marley said that during this dark period, he ensured Mohbad’s parents were fully aware of what was happening. He believed their involvement was crucial for Mohbad to be in a safe environment where he could receive both emotional support and supervision. According to Marley, family support was a step toward helping Mohbad stabilize mentally.
11. Payments to Mohbad’s mother-in-law’s account
Marley also revealed a confusing financial situation involving Mohbad. On several occasions, Mohbad instructed him to send money to an account belonging to his mother-in-law rather than himself. Marley explained: “On November 16, 2020, he sent me a message that he was at the hospital treating malaria. Those people saying he is scared of the hospital can see this.”
“On Dec 21, 2020, Mohbad sent me an account with the name: Adesanya Justina Olajumoke. He said that was his new account where money should be paid into. I was like this is not your account but anyway I paid his money there.” The pattern continued: “On Dec 30, 2020 he appreciated me after his one year anniversary of being my artiste. On Dec 31, 2020, he sent me the same Olajumoke account to pay money into and he still insisted it was his account. On Jan 25, 2021 he sent me that same Olajumoke account and said it was his mum’s account.”
Marley clarified: “I knew that wasn’t his mum’s name. It was Wunmi’s mother’s account. His mother’s name is Abosede. I was like what’s going on, I then called him over to my place and spoke to him.”
According to Marley, the recurring use of this account left him confused, though he eventually let the matter rest after confronting Mohbad directly.
12. Managerial dispute with Tunde (October 2022)
The Marlian boss recounted an incident in October 2022 where Mohbad became unhappy with his manager, Tunde, and wanted to start handling his career himself. Marley said he advised against self-management, warning that it could harm his career trajectory. The disagreement allegedly escalated into a heated argument that turned physical, with Mohbad and Tunde fighting until Marley intervened to separate them.
13. “Escape plan” allegation
Following the manager dispute, Marley suggested that Mohbad may have staged or exaggerated the conflict as part of a strategy to terminate his contract with the label. He also addressed the controversial tweets from Mohbad’s account, accusing him of foul play. Marley denied responsibility and suggested that Mohbad either made those posts under the influence or that his account was hacked.
14. Contract termination and DSP money (October–December 2022)
Marley said he received an official termination letter from Mohbad’s lawyer on October 7, 2022, demanding financial logs. Although he was disappointed, Marley said he did not block Mohbad’s exit from the label despite having invested heavily in his career. He further alleged that in December 2022, Mohbad withdrew $72,000 from one of their digital service providers. Marley claimed that the funds were not entirely Mohbad’s and that the matter created further financial strain between them.
15. Last meeting and an unanswered apology
Naira Marley stated that the last time he physically saw Mohbad was October 4, 2022, during the manager altercation. He revealed that Mohbad later expressed interest in apologising to him before his death, but admitted he avoided reconciliation at the time, saying the entire situation felt “too much” for him to process.
16. Reaction to Mohbad’s death and public accusations
Naira Marley said he first heard about Mohbad’s death on September 12, 2023, while in Amsterdam. “We were in Amsterdam, in a restaurant, waiting for our food when someone just said Mohbad had died,” he recalled. At first, he dismissed the news, saying, “I thought he was just chasing clout to blow.”
Marley described being shocked at how quickly the narrative turned against him online. “Boom, on Twitter everybody just switched and started saying that Naira Marley, finally, you have killed him. They started posting videos of the NDLEA issue, his fight with the ex-manager,” he said.
Despite being abroad at the time, Marley emphasised that he returned to Nigeria to cooperate with police investigations, a move that led to his two-month detention. He also addressed the viral video involving Sam Larry, insisting it had no connection to Mohbad’s death. Finally, he stated that his team is ready to release all of Mohbad’s royalties to the rightful legal beneficiaries in his family.
In conclusion, the interview is the most extensive attempt yet of Naira Marley to publicly clear his name in connection with the life and death of Mohbad. While many will continue to question his account, the 15 revelations highlight the complex blend of mentorship, business, friendship, conflict, and tragedy that defined their relationship.
