Nigerian singer, Abdulazeez Fashola aka Naira Marley has urged the court to probe Omowunmi, the wife of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad and about 14 others who were present at the singer’s house 48-72 hours before his death.
Naira Marley’s lawyer, Olusola Okuwobi, in a statement sent to TheNigerian Metro on Sunday, stated that the singer made this known via a virtual testimony he gave on Friday before Ms T.A. Shotobi of the Coroner Court in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
According to him, Naira Marley claimed that he was out of the country at the time of Mohbad’s death.
He also quoted the singer as saying that he had no animosity towards the late Mohbad.
The statement read, “Azeez Adeshina Fashola aka Naira Marley testified before the court virtually giving his precise and succinct testimony. Naira Marley testified that at the time of Mohbad’s unfortunate death, he was out of the country.
“He further stated that he had no animosity towards Mohbad before his death, he related the status of the contract that subsisted between his good self and the deceased. Naira Marley urged the coroner to look away from the suspects presented by the police and social media and look into interrogating Omowunmi and the 14 others who were present at the house 48-72 hours before the unfortunate passing of the singer.”
Okuwobi also stated that Naira Marley accused those present during the deceased’s final moments of attempting to evade responsibility by circulating an old video.
He noted that they were aware the deceased had previously apologised for the video and had been forgiven before leaving the record label.
Naira Marley’s testimony came barely a week after the auxiliary nurse who treated the late singer testified before the coroner’s court.
Meanwhile, a group of Nigerians in the diaspora has called on the police to re-investigate the case.
The group under the auspices of The Concerned Nigeria Citizens in Diaspora in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Victoria Janolewsky-Peters, and seen by our correspondent on Sunday also seek a detailed investigation of the individuals present at Mohbad’s house, including his brother, Adura Aloba.
“We urge the men and officers of the Nigeria Police, homicide section to look into the direction Naira Marley has pointed at during his testimony under oath, we believe that it is important the police invite and grill Mohbad’s brother, Adura Aloba, including the wife of the deceased, Omowunmi, who is responsible for his wellbeing and has given multiple contradictory accounts of what happened as well as the other persons present at his home.
“Based on this testimony of the ex-label boss of the deceased, the Nigerian citizens in the diaspora beseech the men of the Nigeria Police Force to thoroughly re-investigate the case of the suspected homicide of Mohbad.”
MohBad died on Tuesday, September 12, at the age of 27.
The deceased, a former member of the Marlian Music record label, had, in multiple clips, alleged to have been assaulted by gangs sent by his former boss, Naira Marley, and his associate Samson Eletu, popularly known as Sam Larry.
The court in a ruling on February 25 however acquitted Naira Marley; alongside music promoter, Samson Balogun, better known as Sam Larry; Owodunni Ibrahim (Primeboy); and Mohbad’s former manager, Opere Babatunde.
When reached for comment, Omowunmi’s lawyer, Taiwo Olawanle, requested that our correspondent send a text message.
The text messge sent thereafter had yet to replied to as of the time of filing this report.
