Entertainment
Naira Marley Speaks On Mohbad’s Death: Reveals Drug Use, Suicide Attempt, Says Those With Him In His Last 24–48 Hours Should’ve Been Arrested
Naira Marley also dismissed claims that Mohbad avoided hospitals out of fear, saying he had evidence that the singer visited medical facilities in 2020.
Embattled Nigerian musician, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, has released a video narrating his side of the controversy surrounding the death of his former signee, Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad.
Mohbad died on September 12, 2023, at the age of 27, sparking nationwide outrage, street protests, and widespread accusations against Naira Marley and music promoter Samson “Sam Larry” Balogun.
Although a Magistrate’s Court in Yaba, Lagos, in February 2025 cleared both men of blame in Mohbad’s death, public suspicion has remained, especially after Mohbad, during a social media live session in 2022, declared: “If I die, everybody na Marlian Music, Naira Marley kill me.”
In the video released on Wednesday, Naira Marley claimed Mohbad had long battled substance use and mental health struggles, revealing that he first heard of the late singer using a drug called “Ice” as far back as June 2020.
“I wasn’t angry. I called him, advised him, and told him about the danger. He explained that he got into it due to stress. He even apologised and promised to stay away from it,” Naira Marley said.
The Marlian Music boss also showed WhatsApp chats suggesting that Mohbad personally chose his manager, Tunde, in July 2020, contrary to claims that the label imposed handlers on him. He further stated that he intervened to reduce the commission Mohbad wanted to pay his manager from 25% to 10%.
Naira Marley also dismissed claims that Mohbad avoided hospitals out of fear, saying he had evidence that the singer visited medical facilities in 2020.
On the controversial February 2022 NDLEA (National Drug Law Enforcement Agency) raid of the Marlian house, he said Mohbad suffered a panic attack after a scuffle with the officers, which made him go live on Instagram under “duress.”
“He accused me, Zino, even our wives, while in a vulnerable state of psychosis. He later apologised to me, his parents, and his girlfriend,” Naira Marley stated.
He also revealed that Mohbad once attempted suicide in March 2022 while he was abroad, and upon returning, he confronted him after discovering he had been searching online for the poisonous insecticide.
Naira Marley further accused Mohbad of financial misconduct, claiming the late singer unlawfully withdrew $72,000 from a digital streaming partner in December 2022. According to him, this led Marlian Music to withhold parts of his royalty payments until the funds were returned.
On the day Mohbad’s death was announced, Naira Marley said he was in Amsterdam, and insisted that those who were with the late singer 24–48 hours before his death should be the focus of investigations and arrest.
“I’ve never sent anybody to bully him. Sam Larry also told me he had no hand in his death, and I believe him,” Marley said.
He accused the police of wrongful detention, saying he was kept for two months at Panti, Yaba, despite voluntarily returning to Nigeria to clear his name.
Concluding his video, Marley said Marlian Music was ready to hand over Mohbad’s royalties to whomever the late singer’s family or a court of law designates.
Meanwhile, the Ikorodu Coroner’s Court had earlier recommended criminal prosecution of auxiliary nurse, Feyisayo Ogedengbe, who administered an injection to Mohbad shortly before his death.
The court described her conduct as “grossly negligent, unlawful, and unprofessional.”
-Sahara
Education
NFVCB Boss Urges Stronger Distribution Channels As Coal City Film Festival 2026 Opens In Enugu
The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr Shaibu Husseini, has called for stronger distribution frameworks within Nigeria’s film industry to ensure that locally produced content achieves global visibility.
Dr Husseini made this call while delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 2026 edition of the Coal City Film Festival, held in Enugu.
Welcoming participants to the festival, Dr Husseini expressed his personal delight at hosting the event in Enugu, his birth state, noting the city’s rich cultural heritage and longstanding contributions to Nigeria’s creative landscape.
He commended the festival organisers, particularly the Festival Director, Uche Agbo, for their resilience and commitment in sustaining the initiative.
According to him, the Coal City Film Festival has grown into a significant cultural platform and a must-attend cinematic event in South East Nigeria.
Speaking on the festival’s theme, “Local Stories, Global Screens,” Dr Husseini emphasised the importance of authenticity in storytelling. He noted that films rooted in local realities, languages, and cultural truths often resonate more strongly with global audiences.
He cited notable Nigerian productions such as “King of Boys” by Kemi Adetiba, “The Wedding Party” by Mo Abudu, “Anikulapo” by Kunle Afolayan, “Black Book” by Editi Effiong, and “Lionheart” by Genevieve Nnaji as examples of culturally grounded stories that have gained international recognition on platforms such as Netflix and at global film festivals.
While acknowledging the growth in film production across Nigeria, the NFVCB boss identified distribution as a major bottleneck in the industry. He observed that many high-quality films struggle to reach audiences both locally and internationally due to limited distribution channels.
Dr. Husseini therefore urged film festivals across the country to evolve beyond networking platforms into active marketplaces where filmmakers can secure distribution deals. He stressed that festivals must attract distributors, exhibitors, streaming platforms, and marketers to create tangible opportunities for filmmakers.
“Film festivals must become gateways to distribution where filmmakers leave not just with applause, but with real opportunities,” he said.
Reaffirming the Board’s commitment to industry development, Dr. Husseini stated that the NFVCB has continued to reposition itself as a partner in progress by engaging stakeholders, improving classification processes, and promoting a balance between creative freedom and social responsibility.
However, he raised concerns over increasing non-compliance with regulatory requirements, noting that some filmmakers bypass the Board by releasing unclassified films or operating without proper licensing.
He reiterated that all films and video works must be submitted to the NFVCB for classification and registration before being released on any platform, including digital platforms such as YouTube.
“This is a legal obligation, and the Board will not hesitate to take decisive action against defaulters,” he warned, adding that regulation is essential for protecting the industry, audiences, and national values.
Looking ahead, Dr. Husseini assured stakeholders of the Board’s continued collaboration with filmmakers and festival organisers to build a structured, sustainable, and globally competitive Nigerian film industry.
He concluded by commending the organisers of the Coal City Film Festival for their vision and contribution to Nigeria’s cultural economy, urging filmmakers to continue telling authentic stories that can resonate across global screens.
-Leadership
Veteran rapper Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, popularly known as Ruggedman, has criticised the use of “Afrobeats” as a catchall term for all African music, calling it misleading.
In a recent interview with Day Genius, the rapper argued that the term is often used to group artistes who lack real talent and rely only on catchy beats.
The rapper also claimed that many artists in this category struggle with live performances and freestyling because they depend too much on autotune and studio effects.
Nollywood actress and comedian, Kudirat Abeniade Soremi, popularly known as Mama No Network, has bought a new car.
She posted on her Instagram page and shared pictures of her new car, congratulating herself.
“Congratulations to me. Your car is next in line for Jesus.
May the celebration never cease in our home. May God surround me and you with people who genuinely love and celebrate God’s gift in your life,” she posted.
Her colleagues and fans congratulated her on this feat. Rejoicing with her, Bimpe Akintunde wrote, “Congratulations, Iye mi
The actress is known for playing a deaf woman and mother in the Yoruba movie industry.
Last year, she was conferred with a chieftaincy title in Texas Ijebuland, which is (Yeye Owu Ojuwo of Ijebuland)
-Leadership
NFVCB Boss Urges Stronger Distribution Channels As Coal City Film Festival 2026 Opens In Enugu
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