Nigerian singer and Marlian Records founder, Naira Marley, has shared a detailed account of his relationship with the late Mohbad, offering new insights into their time together.
In a statement, Naira Marley recalled first announcing Mohbad, alongside Zinoleesky and Cblack, as Marlian Music artistes at the Marlian Fest on December 30, 2019. He noted that Mohbad was eager to release music early in his career, even expressing hopes of winning a Headies Award.
“Even though he dropped hot songs, Headies never gave him an award when he was alive until after he died. That is so sad,” Marley said, adding that he always believed in Mohbad’s drive and energy.
The Marlian Music boss revealed that in June 2020 he was informed Mohbad was experimenting with “ice,” a slang term for crack cocaine. According to Marley, he immediately cautioned him against the substance after researching its effects, drawing from his experiences in the UK. Despite this, their personal and professional relationship remained close.
Marley further explained that Mohbad personally chose his manager, Tunde, in July 2020. Initially, Mohbad had planned to pay his manager 25%, but Marley advised him to reduce it to 10%.
He also dismissed claims that Mohbad avoided hospitals, citing a November 16, 2020 message from the singer stating he was receiving treatment for malaria.
The Marlian boss went on to highlight irregularities in financial transactions, noting that Mohbad repeatedly requested payments into an account under the name Adesanya Justina Olajumoke, which Marley later discovered was not linked to Mohbad’s mother as claimed.
“I was like what’s going on. I then called him over to my place and spoke to him,” Marley added.
The statement, which forms part one of Marley’s account, comes amid ongoing public interest and debates surrounding Mohbad’s career, personal struggles, and untimely death.
