Singer and Marlian Music boss, Naira Marley, has finally spoken on the death of his former signee, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.
In an emotional statement on his Instagram Story on Wednesday, Marley addressed the accusations against him following Mohbad’s death and the toll it took on him.
His statement comes after he was discharged and acquitted of any involvement in the tragic incident, which sparked widespread outrage and speculation.
Marley, who had largely remained silent amid the controversy, said he felt betrayed by those who allowed his name to be dragged through the mud.
“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,” he wrote.
Mohbad’s death in September 2023 led to allegations against Marley and his associate, Sam Larry, due to past altercations between the late singer and Marlian Music.
However, Marley maintained that they had reconciled before Mohbad’s passing.
“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,” he stated, addressing those he believes knew the truth but chose to remain silent.
Marley expressed hurt over being vilified, accusing those close to Mohbad of allowing the public to blame him unfairly.
“Yet when he took his last breath in your 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?” he questioned.
He also criticised the delay in Mohbad’s burial, placing the blame on those who handled the matter.
“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,” he said.
Reflecting on his ordeal, Marley noted that he did not run from the allegations but faced the justice system head-on.
“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.”
Despite the challenges, he expressed hope that the truth would prevail.
“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.”
