Nigerian artist, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, has spoken out following the Yaba Magistrate Court’s ruling that cleared him and others of any involvement in the death of fellow artist Ilerioluwa Aloba, known as Mohbad.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Marley disclosed that despite their differences, he and Mohbad had resolved their issues before the latter’s tragic death.
He also expressed frustration over the handling of the situation, particularly the delay in Mohbad’s burial and the shifting narratives surrounding his death.
He wrote, “I never thought silence could be so loud. I never thought someone I called my brother, someone I protected, would leave this world with my name in his shadow. I have carried this weight, this pain, this shame that was never mine to bear.
“We, as Marlians, were not perfect. We had to grow, we had to adapt.
“Mistakes were made, but they were business-never war. I made peace with Mohbad. We understood each other beyond the noise, beyond the misunderstandings. And you know this.
“Yet when he took his last breath in you all”s arms, you looked at the world and pointed at me. You let them tear me apart. You let them call me a killer while you sat there, knowing the truth. Now you tell the story?
“I welcomed you all into my home. I gave you my trust. And yet, my brother is gone, still not buried, and that is your fault. Telling the truth from the beginning would have given him the rest he deserves. Regardless I will always be there for him.
“You never thought I would survive. You never thought I would walk through the fire and face my people, maybe you hoped I would stay a fugitive. You thought I would run. Instead, I stood before the justice system, spent time in jail, and faced everything head-on while you changed the story, again and again.
“But God sees all. The truth does not shake. The lies will fade, and time will reveal everything.
I have been broken, but I am not destroyed. And when the truth finally speaks, I pray your heart is strong enough to bear it.”
Marley’s statement follows Tuesday’s court ruling, which found no case against him, his associate, Sam Larry, and Prime Boy regarding Mohbad’s death.
However, the court ruled that the auxiliary nurse who administered an injection to Mohbad, along with his friend Ayobami, would face prosecution for reckless and negligent acts.
Since Mohbad’s passing, Naira Marley has been at the centre of public scrutiny, with many pointing fingers at him. Despite his repeated denials, his reputation has taken a hit, and public opinion remains divided.
Mohbad, who was once a rising star under Marley’s Marlian Music label, left the record company following a fallout, leading to tensions that played out publicly. His sudden death sparked widespread outrage, with calls for justice and accountability.
