THE Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has revealed that late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, formally withdrew an assault complaint he filed against his former record label boss, Abdulazeez Fashola (Naira Marley), before his death.
The complaint, which was lodged at the Ilasan Police Station over an alleged attack on October 8, 2022, was later withdrawn on October 11, 2022, with Mohbad stating that the matter had been settled amicably.
This was a key factor in yesterday’s ruling by the Magistrates’ Court in Yaba, which acquitted Naira Marley, show promoter Samson Balogun Eletu (Sam Larry), former manager Babatunde Opere, and Ibrahim Owodunni (Primeboy) of any wrongdoing in connection to Mohbad’s death.
The ruling, delivered by Magistrate Ejiro Kubenje, was based on the DPP’s legal advice, which concluded that the four men had no case to answer.
The legal document, signed by Lagos State DPP Babajide Martins, stated:
“This office is unable to act on the complaint of assault the deceased lodged against Naira Marley at the Ilasan Police Station in respect of an assault he underwent in the hands of Naira Marley on October 8, 2022, as the said complaint was withdrawn by the deceased on October 11, 2022, on the ground that the matter had been settled amicably.”
The DPP further stated that while acts of unlawful assault had taken place, they did not meet the legal standard for criminal conspiracy or homicide.
Meanwhile, the court also cleared Primeboy after reviewing evidence showing that Mohbad was the aggressor in an altercation at a concert on September 10, 2023.
According to the DPP’s report, Mohbad had punched Primeboy repeatedly inside a vehicle after he tried to stop the singer from alighting in an area where hoodlums were demanding money.
“Because of the refusal of Owodunni Ibrahim (aka Primeboy) to allow the deceased to alight from the vehicle, the deceased dealt several fist blows on Primeboy, who did not retaliate. It was while punching Primeboy that the deceased hit the glass of the vehicle, cut himself in the arm, and sustained an injury. This injury, in the coming days, bled profusely, caused severe discomfort, and became swollen,” the statement added.
While the court absolved the four men, it ordered the prosecution of auxiliary nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe and Mohbad’s associate Ayobami Sadiq (Spending), who allegedly hired her.
According to the DPP’s findings, Ogedengbe administered injections and medication without conducting a medical assessment or reviewing Mohbad’s medical history, worsening his condition on September 11 and 12, 2023, leading to his convulsions and eventual death.
“Sadiq procured the services of Ogedengbe, knowing full well that she is not a trained medical practitioner but merely an auxiliary nurse. Ogedengbe, without any idea of the deceased’s medical history and without conducting any medical tests, administered medical treatment. The deceased immediately convulsed and died. Both are culpable for involuntary manslaughter under Section 209,” the report declared.
Mohbad, a former signee of Marlian Music, died on September 12, 2023, at 27 years old.
Before his death, he had repeatedly accused Naira Marley and Sam Larry of sending gang members to assault him.
Reacting to the allegations, Naira Marley admitted that they had disagreements but insisted it never escalated to the extent many claimed.
