A Yaba Magistrate Court in Lagos has formally cleared controversial music executive Naira Marley, his associate Sam Larry, and associate Prime Boy of any legal responsibility in the death of singer Mohbad, shifting focus to medical negligence as the primary cause of the young artist’s demise.
Magistrate Ejiro Kubenje, delivering the court’s decision based on the comprehensive legal advice from Lagos State’s Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), declared that the three high-profile figures “had no case to answer” regarding the circumstances surrounding Mohbad’s tragic passing last September.
Instead, criminal prosecution will now proceed against auxiliary nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe, who administered the fatal injection, and one of Mohbad’s friends identified as Ayobami. Both individuals face charges of “reckless and negligent acts contrary to Section 251 (e) of the Criminal Law, Ch C.17, Vol 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015″ and will stand trial at the Magistrate Court level.
The ruling represents a significant legal vindication for Naira Marley and Sam Larry, who became central figures in the controversy following Mohbad’s death at just 27 years old on September 12, 2023. The circumstances surrounding his passing sparked nationwide outrage and intense speculation about potential foul play.
Public sentiment turned sharply against Naira Marley and Sam Larry when footage emerged showing Larry physically confronting Mohbad during an earlier incident. The video’s circulation triggered widespread condemnation across social media platforms, effectively “canceling” Naira Marley’s public image and severely damaging his Marlian Records brand in the eyes of many Nigerians.
The severity of public reaction led to both men being detained by police for over five weeks before their eventual release on bail on November 17, 2023. During their incarceration, the case transformed from a music industry dispute into a national conversation about power dynamics, accountability, and justice within Nigeria’s entertainment ecosystem.
Following their release, both Naira Marley and Sam Larry embarked on multiple charitable initiatives in what observers interpreted as attempts to rehabilitate their public images. Despite these efforts, both continued to face significant social scrutiny and business repercussions from their association with the case.
A particularly notable moment occurred in March when video footage captured an Imam leading Naira Marley and Sam Larry in prayers specifically directed at “the killers of Mohbad.” The religious leader later clarified that both men had professed their innocence to him privately and had requested the prayer specifically because they maintained they had no involvement in Mohbad’s death.
For Sam Larry, the social consequences continued well beyond legal proceedings. In May, he faced a public confrontation at a nightclub when a patron directly accused him of responsibility in Mohbad’s death. The heated exchange, which was filmed and widely shared online, demonstrated the lasting impact of the allegations despite the absence of formal charges.
The fallout extended beyond the directly accused parties. Zinoleesky, another artist signed to Naira Marley’s Marlians Records, suffered significant professional consequences despite having no direct involvement in the controversy. His perceived silence regarding Mohbad’s treatment resulted in canceled international performance opportunities, with US promoters specifically distancing themselves from any association with the label.
Mohbad, whose full name was Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, had previously been signed to Naira Marley’s record label before departing under contentious circumstances. In the aftermath of his separation from Marlians Records, he had made public allegations of threats and harassment, which resurfaced prominently following his unexpected death.
The court’s decision to focus prosecution on medical negligence rather than any actions by Naira Marley or his associates marks a significant turning point in a case that has captivated public attention for nearly a year. The ruling effectively acknowledges that while prior conflicts existed between the parties, these disputes were not legally connected to the cause of death.
For medical professionals, the prosecution of nurse Ogedengbe highlights critical concerns regarding proper healthcare procedures and qualifications, particularly in non-hospital settings. The case draws attention to the practice of administering medications without proper supervision or emergency preparation – issues that affect healthcare delivery across Nigeria.
Legal experts note that the differentiation between civil and criminal liability remains important in this case. While the court has cleared Marley and Larry of criminal responsibility in Mohbad’s death, this ruling does not necessarily preclude potential civil litigation from Mohbad’s family seeking damages related to the documented confrontations that occurred before his passing.
The resolution of this high-profile aspect of the case comes as Mohbad’s musical legacy continues to resonate throughout Nigeria’s entertainment landscape. Several of his recordings achieved posthumous success, with fans embracing his work as a way to honor his memory while expressing ongoing concerns about the circumstances that preceded his death.
For Naira Marley, whose real name is Azeez Fashola, the legal clearance provides an opportunity to rebuild a music career and business empire that suffered substantial damage throughout the controversy. However, industry observers note that regaining public trust may prove considerably more challenging than securing legal exoneration.
As the case now proceeds against Ogedengbe and Ayobami, attention shifts to the medical decisions made in Mohbad’s final hours and whether proper healthcare protocols were followed. Their prosecution will likely examine questions of medical qualifications, proper medication administration, and emergency response procedures – issues with broader implications for healthcare regulation in Nigeria.
While this ruling provides legal clarity, the cultural impact of Mohbad’s passing and the subsequent controversy continues to reverberate through Nigeria’s entertainment industry, raising important questions about power dynamics, accountability, and artist welfare that extend far beyond the specifics of this individual case.
