•Controversy trails Mohbad’s death
•How Naira Marley, Sam Larry allegedly assaulted him
•Entertainers mourn
By Rita Okoye and Damilola Fatunmise
It was a shocking death that set the Internet on fire and reverberated throughout the music industry.
However, the irony of it all was that many never heard of the artiste or his songs until Tuesday, September 12 when he passed away in controversial circumstances. He was 27 years of age.
Popularly known by his fans as Mohbad, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba was an Afrobeats musician formerly signed to Marlian Records owned by controversial artiste, Naira Marley. While alive, he released a couple of songs, some of which featured Naira Marley, including Imole, a moniker he later adopted.
Cause of death
Although, the cause of Mohbad’s death was not revealed in a statement issued by his management, a report had claimed the singer died of ear infection.
Conversations about the “ear infection” and Naira Marley allegedly assaulting Mohbad began to trend on X (Twitter) amidst several other rumours regarding his death.
While a deluge of social media users disagreed with the “ear infection” report, others wondered why an autopsy was not conducted to determine the circumstances surrounding Mohbad’s death before he was laid to rest in Ikorodu, Lagos during the week.
Bloody assault
In October 2022, Mohbad had alleged that his then record label’s head honcho, Naira Marley assaulted him. The musician shared footage of himself, highlighting a number of bloody bruises he had sustained during the fracas.
He narrated his ordeal thus: “They threw me on the floor and trampled on me. My life is at stake. I am still getting threats.”
In the same social media post, Mohbad claimed members of Marley’s music label assaulted him for requesting a new manager. But in his reaction, Naira Marley dismissed the allegations with a wave of the hand. He accused Mohbad of not being in his right senses while making the assault allegation.
“If Mohbad did not do a video, I would not even bother explaining because it is not something big. Obviously, he is not in his right sense. It is obvious he is not in the right state of mind. Why will I touch Mohbad or allow anyone to touch Mohbad? When he is back in his right sense, he will explain himself and apologize as usual,” he countered.
Mohbad later terminated his contract with Naira Marley’s Marlian Records. He also dropped a song that addressed an allegation of drug abuse levelled against him, saying he has since quit smoking ‘ganja’ (marijuana).
Mohbad didn’t stop at that. In the track titled, TIFF, he called out Naira Marley and Marlian Records for issuing threats to his parents.
Sammy Larry versus Mohbad
In a similar development, popular show promoter, Sam Larry Eletu Balogun aka Sammy Larry, was alleged to have harassed and attacked Mohbad with dangerous weapons.
The socialite had come under fire after a video surfaced on social media where he and some people were seen harassing the late singer.
In the video, Mohbad and another musician, Zlatan Ibile were shooting a music video on June 25, 2023 when Larry stormed the location with some ‘area boys’ bullying and harassing the deceased, who had to scamper away in fear. But then, Zlatan was spotted in the video, standing up to Larry and his boys, and forestalling any attack on Mohbad.
Mohbad later reported the ugly incidence to the authority in a petition he addressed to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Alagbon Close, Ikoyi, Lagos.
But before then, the assault video had generated a furore on social media, leading many furious fans of Mohbad to storm Larry’s Instagram page to attack him for bullying their idol. Following the torrents of cyber attack, Larry, an ally of Naira Marley, deactivated his Instagram account and went incommunicado.
Promoters’ gang up
A month before his death on September 12, Mohbad during an interview made a shocking revelation of how show promoters were avoiding him, because he was no longer with Marlian Records.
“Show promoters did not want to pick me for shows because I left a label. If they want to reach out to me, they still go back to the label. And the label keeps saying ‘That boy is not really okay here’,” he lamented.
Widow at 24
Mohbad’s baby mama, simply identified as Wunmi, had painted a graphic picture of the singer’s last days on earth.
In a post on her Instagram handle @c33why, Wunmi claimed Mohbad was “never happy for a whole day” and has sadly turned her to a widow at 24.
Wunmi, who has a baby boy for the late singer, further revealed that the former Marlian record signee always lived with fears. She added that his worry doubled after the birth of their now 5-months-old baby, Liam.
“This Nigga struggled till death, too many pains, threatening. He had always lived with fears, continuous fights everywhere he goes too, he has never been happy for a whole day… he was called a junkie, a mad person, mental issue so the public would have another view about him… he’s dead at least you all won, take your trophy.
“Nothing makes him happy no more, even after seeing his baby he became more worried, he’s now a family man he doesn’t want anything to happen to us… Ya’ll made a widow at 24 years. Olorun idajo re daaa (God where is your judgment?),” she wrote.
Wunmi also noted that she and her baby were at the verge of leaving the country before the singer’s tragic death.
“I was supposed to collect my baby’s passport yesterday so we could process our travelling, he always says to me… Wunmi pls go for my baby’s sake, I wouldn’t want these people to harm you and him, it will break me… You just go, let me face them myself. Ilerioluwa rest in peace… You really need that peace,” she disclosed.
Mohbad’s last performance was on Sunday, September 10 at a town hall in Ikorodu, Lagos where he thrilled concertgoers with his hit songs.
Tribute galore for Mohbad
Meanwhile, since Mohbad’s passage, artistes and celebrities have been paying tribute to him. Here are excerpts:
Mohbad’s death so hard to accept
-Iyabo Ojo, actress
Death is one shocking and painful reality that is inevitable. It’s so hard to accept. Mohbad, I will never forget those three days we toured the UK together for the African Music festival. You’re very calm, respectful and at the same time, jovial. May your gentle soul rest in peace. My condolences go out to your family, most especially your dear wife and son. May God grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.
He’s free-spirited, decent and humble till death
-Kiekie, skit maker/actress
You asked me to make this video for you in Yankee. I sent it to you and you started hailing me. You are always free-spirited, very decent and humble till the end. Imole, your voice is literally replaying in my head. I can’t stop seeing you in my living room. God knows best. Imole!
Mohbad, a vibe while alive
-Ayo Adesanya, actress
I met you in Dubai in 2021. The firs t thing you said was, ‘I enjoyed your movies ma’am’. I remember vividly what you told me in the video. When I said ‘ko po ke’, you said I should say ‘opo danu danu’. You were indeed a vibe when you were alive. You will surely be missed. May your soul rest in perfect peace, Imole.
Few took him serious; many believed he’s unserious
-Eniayenfe, actress
He died (and) over 30,000 upload Imole’s pictures with loads of emotional captions. He dropped a song, 1,000 only vibe to it and 2,000 called it trash. He needed self-attention from people while he was battling his life. Only a few took him seriously while many took him unserious. You all should note this… Life and tomorrow is not promising.
I won’t get tired reminding people about death
-Jide Awobona, actor
I won’t get tired of reminding us all, stop teaching people how to grief, stop teaching people how to react to situations, this is death, one debt we all must pay. No one is immune to it, a respecter of no one. #ripmohbad.
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