A magistrate court in Sabo, Yaba, Lagos, has cleared popular musician Naira Marley of any involvement in the tragic death of his former signee, Mohbad. In a ruling on Tuesday, Magistrate Ejiro Kubenji determined that Naira Marley had no case to answer, following legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) in Lagos.
Alongside Naira Marley, music promoter Samson “Sam Larry” Balogun, Owodunni “Primeboy” Ibrahim, and Mohbad’s former manager, Opere Babatunde, were all acquitted by the court.
However, the legal proceedings are far from over. The DPP announced that it will pursue charges against Feyisayo Ogedengbe, the auxiliary nurse who treated Mohbad before his death, and Ayobami Sadiq, one of Mohbad’s close friends, for reckless and negligent acts under Section 251 (e) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The case revolves around the sudden and mysterious death of Mohbad on September 12, 2023. His passing sparked widespread outrage, with fans and fellow musicians demanding justice on social media.
In the wake of Mohbad’s death, Naira Marley and Sam Larry were arrested in October 2023, following allegations of their involvement in the singer’s demise. After spending more than five weeks in detention, they were released on bail in November of the same year.
The Lagos State Police had previously named Ogedengbe, the auxiliary nurse who administered an injection to Mohbad, as the “prime suspect” in the case. According to Lagos State Police Commissioner, Idowu Owohunwa, Ogedengbe’s actions, which included administering multiple potent injections—comprising tetanus toxoid, paracetamol, and ceftriaxone—caused a severe reaction that ultimately led to Mohbad’s death.
