Music artiste Naira Marley testified on Friday before a Magistrate Court in Ikorodu during the Coroner’s inquest into the death of Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.

Appearing virtually before Magistrate Adedayo Shotobi, Marley revealed that Mohbad had signed a contract with his record label, Marlian Records, to produce four albums. However, due to ongoing disagreements between Mohbad and his manager, Opere Babatunde, the albums were never completed before the singer left the label.

Marley denied allegations of threatening or assaulting Mohbad, citing a police report that cleared him of any wrongdoing. He insisted that claims of harassment were mere speculation.

When questioned about a viral video in which Mohbad claimed that Marley and the Marlian crew should be held responsible if anything happened to him, the musician testified that Mohbad and his parents later apologised, explaining that the statement was made under the influence of drugs.

Marley also denied any involvement in Mohbad’s death, stating that he last saw the singer a year before his passing and was not in the country at the time of his demise.

A second witness, Mohbad’s lawyer, Oluwasanmi Falade, contradicted Marley’s claim, confirming that there was an unresolved dispute between the singer and Marlian Records over unpaid royalties. Falade testified that, at Mohbad’s request, he had sent multiple letters to the label but received no response. He added that the matter is now before the Federal High Court.

Falade further disclosed that Mohbad was attacked at Lekki Beach by music promoter Sam Larry and had reported the incident to the Force Headquarters, which unsuccessfully attempted to arrest Larry twice.

After hearing the testimonies, Magistrate Shotobi summoned Sam Larry to appear before the Coroner’s Court on the next adjourned date. The Coroner also instructed that a witness summons be issued to Mohbad’s driver and ordered the pathologist who conducted the autopsy to submit his findings to the court and the Chief Coroner before the next hearing, scheduled for 11 April.

Outside the court, counsel to Mohbad’s family, Wahab Shittu (SAN), stated that there was no clear evidence implicating Naira Marley in the singer’s death. However, he expressed confidence that the inquest would reveal the circumstances leading to Mohbad’s demise. He urged a closer examination of those present in the singer’s final hours and requested that the doctors who treated Mohbad at the two hospitals where he was taken on the day of his death be summoned to testify.