Naira Marley Tells His Story: “I Wasn’t in Nigeria When MohBad Died”

Assalamu Alaikum, ladies and gentlemen. Hello everybody. You know what it is— it’s your boy Naira Marley, CEO of Marlian Music.

I’ve learned never to over-explain myself. “Those who like you don’t need it, and those who dislike you won’t believe it.” People don’t only believe what they see—many believe what they want, regardless of the facts. The Qur’an (Al-Hajj, 22:46) says: “It is not the eyes that are blind, but the hearts.” I’m speaking today for my real Malians worldwide—the ones who stood by me when it peaked, who said, “He might have bullied him, but he didn’t kill him.” I’ll walk you through what happened as I lived it.

Returning to Nigeria, 2018–2019: Music, Momentum, and a Decision to Stay

• 9 March 2018: After 17 years in the UK, I returned to Nigeria to see family and shoot videos. I had already released “Issa Goal” (successful), came to shoot the video, and dropped it 27 April 2018.

• Went back to the UK, dropped “Japa.” Successful again. Returned to Nigeria to shoot “Am I A Yahoo Boy?” (released 9 May 2019, a day before my birthday).

• My birthday, 2019: I was sleeping when I got arrested. I was remanded to Ikoyi Prison. When I got out, the love on the streets was crazy. The fan base was overwhelming—Malians everywhere.

• I decided to base in Nigeria even though my family (including my four kids) were in the UK. 2019 was when I bought my first house in Nigeria and chose to really live here. Shows were nonstop; money and fame were peaking.

Founding Marlian Music & Signing MohBad (December 2019)

From the UK days I’d dreamed of a label. In Nigeria, the platform and revenue were there—so I launched Marlian Music to share that platform and build a team.

• December 2019: I introduced MohBad alongside Zinoleesky, C Blvck, and others at Marlian Fest (30 Dec 2019).
  The day before (29 Dec) we were still aligning; he didn’t want to miss the show, flew in from Dubai, and I announced him on stage.

• 1 January onward (2020): We were texting and planning videos. I visited his dad’s church. I told him, “When you blow more, you’ll blow your dad too.” I believed he’d blow. He wanted to drop back-to-back singles and chase Rookie of the Year at The Headies.

• Our DMs from that period show love, jokes, and hustle—sharing links, sorting bookings, planning video shoots like “Koma Jensun.”

Management, Money, and the Way We Worked

• Manager: MohBad picked Tunde himself (20 July 2020 chat). He first mentioned paying 20–25%. I told them to cap it at 10%—artist first.

• Contract: Our deal was simple—I paid for everything (videos, promo, etc.), then we split 50/50. It was for four albums (not “forever”), and he could still drop singles/EPs under that structure. I kept things transparent: who we paid, how much, and why. He was involved in decisions (directors, shoots, etc.). No padded invoices.

Health & Substance Concerns (2020)

• June 2020: I first heard MohBad was using something people called “ice.” I didn’t know the slang at first. When I realized it meant crack, I spoke to him—not angry—just advice about risks and consequences. He thanked me and said stress pushed him toward it but he’d stop.

• Late 2020: He told me he had malaria and was at a hospital near our estate. I helped with bills—CT scan, meds. Again, the vibe between us stayed love.

NDLEA Incident (February 2022) & Aftermath

• 24 Feb 2022: The NDLEA stormed the Marlian house. I wasn’t in Nigeria; I was in Sweden. Zino, Shubomi, Hokage, and others were picked up; MohBad had an altercation with officers and was taken too.

• After his release, he went live in a vulnerable panic and accused me and others of trying to “endanger” him. On the way to the hospital he made more allegations, even about his girl, Zino, wives—many people. He later called Zino a “snitch,” but Zino was still in a cell at the time. It was chaos.

• I flew back immediately, went to the hospital, settled his bills, and tried to understand what happened. His dad and mum visited to apologize. We all sat, and I forgave him. After that, we returned to making music: he dropped “Ronaldo” (May 2022) and “Peace” (Sept 2022).

Suicide Scare (27 March 2022)

While I was in Puerto Rico for Afro Nation, I got calls that MohBad was on a window trying to kill himself. I phoned him immediately (and recorded for accountability). I begged him: life over everything; if it’s family stress, leave there and come to a safe space. After the call, I sent Zino and others to pick him up.

They went to a club show with him, ate together afterward, and said he seemed better. He insisted on going home.
We met again 29 March 2022 when I got back to Nigeria. I also spoke with his parents for hours about keeping him safe. My focus stayed: rest, help, and protection.

October 2022: Manager Fight & Contract Termination

• 4 Oct 2022 (night): Group chat blew up—MohBad vs. Tunde. MohBad later pulled up to our studio with some boys, intoxicated. I told him: don’t fight; just sack him and choose another manager. He left.
  Outside, he and Tunde crossed paths and fought. I stopped it.

• 7 Oct 2022: We received a termination letter from his lawyers requesting payment logs. I had no reason to hide anything. We sent the logs. I could have enforced the contract (four albums), but I let him go. I’m an artist myself—I get it.

• Dec 2022: MohBad withdrew $72,000 directly from a DSP partner. Because of that, some royalties had to be held until reconciliation. After that, his lawyers went quiet.

• May 2024: I heard he took the distributor to court over copyright/infringement. That was between him and the distributor—no case against Marlian Music.

About the Accounts & Payments

At various points, I kept seeing payments requested to a female-named account (Adesanya Justina Olajumoke).

He called it “my account,” later said “my mum’s account.” I know his mum’s name as Abosede Osoba (pardon me if I’m wrong), so I told him we can’t keep sending to an unknown account—open yours.

Transparency and clean records matter for future reconciliation.

Separately, MohBad also later shared his own account details, sent show lists, and I paid (e.g., ₦2.5m, £1,350, etc.). I also told him to give Tunde 10% where due.

The “Sam Larry” Video & Police Petitions

After MohBad’s death, a video surfaced of Sam Larry approaching him on a set. People rushed to judge, but I knew the date didn’t line up—Larry wasn’t even in Nigeria that day. Larry told me he went there about money owed and tapped a chair; he didn’t touch MohBad.

A recording with Zlatan backed that version, plus a clip of them eating together after.

Police invited Larry; he went repeatedly. A counter-petition was filed too. According to what I saw, MohBad never showed with witnesses or the cameraman. I’m not speaking for anyone—just telling you what reached me and why I didn’t jump to conclusions.

September 12, 2023: The Day MohBad Died

• 12 Sept 2023: I was not in Nigeria. I had traveled to Amsterdam, then linked up with Zino in Montenegro en route to Amsterdam again to shoot a video.
  At a restaurant, someone said, “MohBad is dead.” I said it must be a lie. Then Instablog posted “ear infection.” Suddenly social media blamed me. Old clips from NDLEA and the Oct 2022 fight started circulating as if they caused a death a year later. It looked orchestrated.

• I returned to Nigeria to cooperate. I spent two months in Panti. They kept my passport long after. I showed stamps and videos proving I wasn’t in the country. Even officers said I wasn’t tied to it; they claimed it was for my “protection.” Two months in a cell isn’t protection, but I cooperated fully.

• I wanted the autopsy to speak. If you ask me, everyone who was with him in the last 24–48 hours should have been questioned thoroughly (again).

On Posts From His Official Pages (Four Days After)

16 Sept 2023 (four days after he passed), posts from his Instagram and X focused on catalog and unpaid royalties “wrongfully held by Marlian Music,” saying that was the “justice” he was working toward.
We didn’t even know the cause of death yet. To me, that tone felt premature and curious. For the record: since his passing, we haven’t touched a kobo of his money. It’s preserved for whoever the court/family designates to manage his estate.

Where I Stand

• I never sent anyone to bully MohBad; I repeatedly told people to leave his name off mine once he left the label.

• I paid hospital bills, scans, meds; I urged rest and help when his mental state was fragile.

• When he asked to leave, I let him go, sent the payment logs, and moved on—even after heavy investment.

• I cooperated with police for months. I wasn’t in Nigeria on 12 Sept 2023 and hadn’t seen him since 4 Oct 2022.

• Royalties/cash due to him post-humously are untouched and ready to be handed to whoever the court/family appoints.

To my Malians, thank you. May Allah grant MohBad mercy and rest. I remain the Marlian President. This is my account—dates, receipts, and context—so hearts can see what eyes may have missed.