UPDATED: Court Clears Naira Marley, Sam Larry, and Primeboy of Involvement in Mohbad’s Death

A Nigerian court has ruled that Naira Marley, Sam Larry, and Primeboy were not involved in the tragic death of singer Mohbad. Read more on the verdict.

The Magistrate Court located in the Sabo, Yaba area of Lagos has acquitted Abdulazeez Fashola, also known as Naira Marley, and music promoter Samson Balogun Eletu, who goes by Sam Larry. This decision pertains to their involvement in the case concerning the death of Aloba Oladimeji IleriOluwa, popularly referred to as Mohbad.

Magistrate Ejiro Kubenje, upon reviewing and applying the legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) in Lagos, stated that there is no case to answer.

The court also released Owodunni Ibrahim, known as Primeboy, along with Mohbad’s former manager, Opere Babatunde.

However, the DPP announced that it will be prosecuting Feyisayo Ogedengbe, the auxiliary nurse who treated Mohbad, along with Ayobami Sadiq, one of Mohbad’s friends. They are charged with the offense of Reckless and Negligent Acts in violation of Section 251 (e) under Chapter C.17, Volume 3 of the Criminal Law from Lagos State’s Laws enacted in 2015.

The advice stated that, while documented incidents of unlawful assault on Mohbad were indeed perpetrated by Naira Marley and Sam Larry, these accusations do not hold the pair criminally accountable for Mohbad’s death.

The DPP’s advice provides a detailed account of how Mohbad sustained the injury that eventually resulted in his death. It states that in September 2023, Mohbad attended a concert organized by Soso Sobrekon in Ikorodu along with Adeyemo Boluwatife (also known as Darosha), his wife Wunmi Adebanjo Cynthia, Owodunni Ibrahim (known as Primeboy), their driver Fidelis Esanbor, and several other unidentified individuals.

The report stated that as they attempted to leave the concert, Primeboy advised Mohbad against leaving due to some touts demanding money. This advice frustrated Mohbad, leading him to attack Primeboy physically. During the altercation, Mohbad accidentally struck a car window with his arm and sustained an injury on his right arm. The wound bled and became swollen but was improperly treated by an untrained auxiliary nurse, ultimately contributing to Mohbad’s death.