Lagos State Police Command, on Friday has disclosed the existence of substantial electronic and credible witness evidence linking the singer Azeez Fashola, widely known as Naira Marley, and a music promoter Balogun Eletu, popularly known as Sam Larry, to cyberbullying, threats to life, and assault resulting in harm to the deceased, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, also known as Mohbad.
This was disclosed by the Lagos state Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa at a press briefing at the state Command headquarters, Ikeja, Lagos. The CP said: “As of today, a total of 26 witnesses have been interviewed.” He said those interrogated include Mohbad’s father, mother, sisters, brother, wife and manager among several others.
Owohunwa stated that although Naira Marley and Sammy Larry denied allegations of criminal liability in the death of Mohbad and pleaded an alibi to justify their not being complicit in the incidents that occurred from 10th to 12th September 2023, there are ample electronic and credible witnesses’ evidence linking them to cyberbullying, threat to life, assault occasioning harm.
According to the CP, Sam Larry admitted that he had multiple physical confrontations with Mohbad to get him to refund the two million naira (=N=2m) that he claimed he paid to the late singer for a show that he claimed he did not honour. Owohunwa said: “During the investigation, series of allegations of bullying, threat to life, and possible complicity in the death of Mohbad by Naira Marley and Sam Larry were raised.
“This prompted the Special Investigation Team to widen the scope of their investigation to that aspect. Several videos touching on the allegations were analysed and witnesses were interviewed.
“Many witnesses alleged that the deceased was indeed bullied and assaulted several times by AbdulAzeez Adeshina Fashola (a.k.a. Naira Marley) ‘m’ and Samson Erinfolami Balogun (a.k.a. Sam Larry) ‘m’ and their gangs.
“It was affirmed that sometime in 2019, the deceased was allegedly signed by Naira Marley into a record label known as Marlians Music Limited. Due to disagreement on terms of the contract, the deceased, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba (a.ka. Mohbad) press for the revocation of his contractual relationship with Marlian Music Label, while also pushing to relieve his then manager who was a brother to Naira Marley.
“It was alleged that these moves irked the suspects, AbdulAzeez Adeshina Fashola (a.k.a. Naira Marley) ‘m’ and Samson Erinfolami Balogun (a.k.a. Sam Larry) ‘m’ who in consequence, allegedly on several occasions conspired, bullied, and assaulted the deceased.
“It was also asserted by some witnesses with corroborative video evidence that before his demise, Mohbad had raised the alarm that his life was being threatened. He was being bullied and assaulted by Naira Marley and Sam Larry.
Owohunwa was giving preliminary reports of an investigation conducted by the police team to unravel the circumstances that led to the death of Mohbad.
“Upon their arrest, AbdulAzeez Adeshina Fashola (a.k.a. Naira Marley) and Samson Erinfolami Balogun (a.k.a. Sam Larry) denied the allegation of complicity in the death of Mohbad by pleading to the alibi that they were both out of the country when the incident occurred and that they were not in any manner involved in the chain of events that occasioned his death between 10th – 12th September 2023.
“However, there are preponderance of evidence linking both Naira Marley and Sam Larry to the allegations of threat to life, cyberstalking and sundry crimes committed against Mohbad in his lifetime and they are being held liable.
The CP further disclosed that the reports of the autopsy conducted on the late singer, are still being awaited.
