They Had No Reason to Arrest Me” — Naira Marley Speaks Out in Explosive Interview About Mohbad’s Death

Nigerian artist Naira Marley has finally broken his silence on the controversy surrounding the death of singer Mohbad, who passed away in September 2023 under tragic and mysterious circumstances.

The interview, released via Youtube on August 20, 2025, has reignited national conversation over what really happened, who was responsible, and why Marley was arrested despite claiming he wasn’t even in the country at the time.

Marley, the head of Marlian Music, signed Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, known professionally as Mohbad, in December 2019. The two were close like family, according to Marley. He explained that the label’s contract offered a 50/50 revenue split with Mohbad and was expected to release four albums. Contrary to rumors of exploitation, Marley insisted:

“I saw Mohbad like a brother,” he said. “There were times he would break down, and I would do everything in my power to help him. That’s the truth they never wanted to hear.” “He had access to all the money, streaming income, show payments, endorsements. Everything was transparent.”

One of the most surprising elements of Marley’s revelation was his claim that Mohbad began struggling with drug use as early as mid-2020. He went on to describe a troubling period in February 2022, after Mohbad’s arrest by the NDLEA (National Drug Law Enforcement Agency). According to Marley, Mohbad tried to take his own life.

Tensions between the two artists escalated later in 2022, primarily over royalty disputes and contractual misunderstandings. One major flashpoint was when Mohbad withdrew $72,000 from the Marlian Music DSP account, a move Marley said created serious conflict. 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.

Their last face-to-face meeting occurred in October 2022, nearly a year before Mohbad’s death.

“He later apologized in a message, saying he was sorry for the way things went down. But by then, things were too far gone emotionally,” Marley said.

When news broke of Mohbad’s death in September 2023, Marley said he was shocked, and in Amsterdam at the time. Still, public backlash exploded, and accusations quickly pointed toward him and his associate Sam Larry. 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.

“I flew back to Nigeria to clear my name and help with investigations. I ended up in detention for two months. For what?” he said, visibly frustrated.

He added:

“If this was a sane country, the police would have arrested everyone who was around him 24 to 48 hours before he died not me, who wasn’t even in Nigeria.”

Amid the grief and controversy, Marley claimed his team is prepared to release all outstanding royalties owed to Mohbad’s family. While Marley admits there were misunderstandings and regrets, he’s firm in defending himself against the narrative that he had any role in Mohbad’s death.

“I’ve kept quiet too long. I let people call me a murderer without hearing my side. But this was someone I loved, someone I helped through his darkest times.”

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. With his interview now in the public domain, Naira Marley has opened a new chapter in a story that has dominated headlines, courtrooms, and online discourse for nearly two years. Whether his words shift public perception remains to be seen, but one thing is clear the fight for justice, truth, and healing in Mohbad’s legacy is far from over.