Naira Marley and Sam Larry, the musician and label owner who were being held in police custody in Lagos State, have been released on Friday after meeting their bail conditions.
The duo had been detained in connection to the controversial death of rapper Ilerioluwa Aloba, widely known as Mohbad. Sam Larry had spent approximately 50 days in custody since his arrest on September 28, while Naira Marley had been detained for around 44 days since October 3.
Confirming their release, Benjamin Hundeyin, the Superintendent of Police and the spokesperson for Lagos State Police, issued a statement in Ikeja. According to the statement, Naira Marley and Sam Larry met their bail conditions, leading to their release.
They were arraigned before a Yaba Magistrate’s Court on October 6, along with two others, in connection to the case of Mohbad’s death. The court ordered their remand in police custody. On November 6, the court granted them bail in the sum of N20 million with three responsible sureties in like sum. The magistrate, Adeola Olatunbosun, also ordered the defendants to submit their passports and report weekly to the State’s Criminal Investigation Department at Panti, Yaba.
Mohbad, born on January 3, 1996, died in mysterious circumstances on September 12 and was buried the following day. His death sparked nationwide protests, prompting the police to exhume the body for further investigation. Mohbad was reported to have attended a concert in Ikorodu, Lagos State, on September 10, where he sustained injuries during a fracas.
Following his death, the police questioned several individuals, including Mohbad’s family members, friends, wife, and manager. Naira Marley and Sam Larry were detained after it was alleged that they had been bullying the late rapper. Mohbad was formerly signed to Naira Marley’s Marlian Records before leaving the label in 2022.
In a news conference held in Ikeja on October 5, Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Idowu Owohunwa, named auxiliary nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe as the prime suspect in Mohbad’s death. Ogedengbe was reported to have injected the deceased three times in his home on September 12, after which he started vomiting and developing goosebumps. Owohunwa stated that 26 individuals had been interviewed in connection to Mohbad’s death.
According to the police chief, Mohbad was taken to the hospital lifeless and was pronounced dead by attending physicians on September 12. It was revealed that Ogedengbe was called to inject the singer at his home by Mohbad’s friend, Ayobami Isiaka, also known as Spending. The police commissioner stated that the three injections given by Ogedengbe were believed to have led to Mohbad’s death.
The altercation between Primeboy and Mohbad at the concert they attended together on September 10 resulted in harm to the late singer, according to the police. The injuries sustained during the fight ultimately led to his death, as explained by Commissioner Owohunwa.
