Entertainment

Mohbad: Naira Marley Speaks In New Video

Published

3 days ago

August 20, 2025

Musician Naira Marley, born Azeez Fashola, has shared his side of the story over the death of his former signee Mohbad.

Mohbad (Ilerioluwa Aloba) died on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at the age of 27.

In February, a Magistrate’s Court in Yaba, Lagos acquitted Naira Marley and music promoter Sam Larry (Samson Balogun) of blame over Mohbad’s death.

The court also freed Primeboy (Ibrahim Owodunni) and Mohbad’s former manager, Babatunde Opere.

In July, the Coroner’s Court sitting in Ikorodu recommended the criminal prosecution of Feyisayo Ogedengbe, the auxiliary nurse who treated Mohbad shortly before he died.

The inquest was set up by the state government to unravel the circumstances that led to the singer’s death.

Magistrate Adedayo Shotobi said the nurse acted with gross negligence by administering an injection to the singer without a doctor’s prescription.

Although the court ruled out foul play or homicide in the case, it held that the actions of the nurse were both “unlawful and professionally negligent”.

Months after being acquitted, Naira Marley released a video on YouTube in the early hours of Wednesday, explaining his side of the story.

Naira Marley became known in the Nigerian music scene in 2018. In 2019, he announced Mohbad and Zinoleesky as some of his new signees on Marlian Music.

How I was taken to Okija shrine in the midnight—Ngige
In the video, he alleged that on June 7, 2020, he learnt that Mohbad was using some illegal substance called Ice.

“I wasn’t angry, I called him and advised him and told him about the danger. He said he got into it because of stress but said he would stay out of it. I didn’t force him to do anything,” the singer said.

He also showed evidence that Mohbad picked his own manager in July 2020.

“He was planning to pay Tunde 25 percent. I said ‘No 10 percent,’” Naira Marley said.

He also debunked the rumour of Mohbad being afraid to visit the hospital, showing a WhatsApp chat from November 2020 where he visited a hospital.

“Our business is plain, even though we got accountants. We did 50-50; this is the first time I’m saying it. I paid for anything and everything and then we split 50-50,” he said.

On February 24, 2022, officers from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) raided the Marlian house and took Zinoleesky and one Subomi.

Naira Marley, who said he was in Sweden at the time, noted that Mohbad was taken along because he had physical altercation with the officers.

“Mohbad went live (on Instagram) under duress shortly after he was released. While having a panic attack he accused me and others,” he said.

During the live session, Mohbad said, “If I die, everybody na Marlian Music, Naira Marley kill me.”

“On their way to the hospital, he also accused his girl, Zino, a lot of people. He even accused our wives. Shortly after that, whilst in a vulnerable state of psychosis, he made a statement calling Zino a snitch,” said Naira Marley.

After that incident, Mohbad remained in Marlian Music.

Naira Marley said Mohbad, his parents and his girlfriend Wunmi apologised for the singer’s actions.

The ‘Soapy’ singer said that after the NDLEA incident, Mohbad stopped staying frequently at Marlian house. He said he tried to get Mohbad help by paying for health checks and medications.

On March 27, 2022, Mohbad attempted suicide. Naira Marley said he was in Puerto Rico at the time.

On his return to Nigeria, he said he spoke with Mohbad about his online search for a deadly insecticide called Sniper. Naira Marley said he also spoke with Mohbad’s parents and they concluded that Mohbad should be taken away.

Naira Marley said that on a fateful day, Mohbad was intoxicated and came to Marlian house to fight his manager after they fell out.

The singer said that after the incident, Mohbad went on Twitter, now X, accusing him (Naira Marley) of threats to his life because he wanted to part with his manager.

“We suspect Mohbad had given his phone to someone to fabricate the story,” said Naira Marley.

On October 7, 2022, Mohbad’s lawyer wrote a letter to Marlian Music, saying the musician wanted to leave the record label. Naira Marley said he sent the payment log to Mohbad’s lawyer to show transparency in their financial transactions.

“Not long after that, in December 2022, Mohbad withdrew $72,000 from a DSP partner. All these monies he took were not his. We had to hold some of his royalty payment till he returned the money he took,” he said.

Naira Marley noted that after Mohbad withdrew the money, he stopped hearing from him and his lawyers.

He said that the last time he saw Mohbad was on October 4, 2022, on the day of the latter’s fight with his manager.

According to Naira Marley, he was in Amsterdam on the day of Mohbad’s death. He said people began accusing him of being involved in Mohbad’s death.

Naira Marley said he expected that those who were with Mohbad 24 to 48 hours before his death should have been arrested.

He also said Sam Larry explained to him that he had no hand in Mohbad’s death and he believed him.

“I’ve never sent anybody to bully him,” he said.

Naira Marley criticised the police for detaining him for two months in Panti, Yaba, Lagos, after he returned to Nigeria to clear his name.

He concluded that Marlian Music had contacted Mohbad’s lawyer and was ready to give the late musician’s royalties to whoever the family or court picks.
(VANGUARD)

Entertainment

How Toke Makinwa’s Pregnancy Unveiling Sparked Social Media Frenzy

Published

10 hours ago

August 23, 2025

Editor

Nigerian media personality, entrepreneur and actress, Toke Makinwa, sent shockwaves across the internet exactly a week ago after unveiling her pregnancy, a revelation that has since dominated conversations both online and offline.Newspaper-inspired merchandise

For over a decade, Makinwa has remained one of Nigeria’s most recognised media figures. From her early days as a presenter on Rhythm 93.7 FM’s ‘The Morning Drive’, to her widely followed YouTube vlog, Toke Moments, and her best-selling memoir ‘On Becoming’, she has built a reputation for candour, glamour and resilience.Newspaper-inspired merchandise

At 40, she has grown into an entertainment powerhouse, with endorsements, acting roles, and businesses that have cemented her influence across fashion, beauty, and lifestyle spaces.

Over the years, Toke Makinwa’s views on relationships have often sparked debate. Following a high-profile divorce from entrepreneur Maje Ayida in 2017, she became vocal about self-worth, financial independence and rethinking traditional expectations of marriage.

While she once remarked that “marriage is not an achievement,” she later admitted she remained open to remarriage but only on her own terms.

In her exact words, she remarked, “As independent women, do you think that we have glamorised this notion of being independent? Yeah. It’s tough, I won’t lie. Let me break it down. Forget the cameras. At this point in my life, if I have the opportunity to be the second, third, fourth or fifth wife, I will take it.”

This history of outspoken reflections made her pregnancy announcement more striking to fans and critics alike.

The pregnancy unveiling
Ahead of her Instagram unveiling, Tribune Online on Tuesday, August 12, exclusively reported that the actress is pregnant and nears delivery. Digital edition of the newspaper

Following the report, Makinwa took to Instagram on Wednesday to announce what she called “the biggest project of my life.”

Accompanied by radiant photographs of her growing bump, she described the journey as “the highest calling ever,” adding:

“Of all the projects I’ve embarked on in my life, this one trumps it all. The timing couldn’t be more perfect. God truly makes all things beautiful in His time.”

Her heartfelt caption, infused with gratitude and spirituality, immediately struck a chord with millions of followers.

Social media frenzy
The reaction that trailed Toke Makinwa’s unveiling was nothing short of explosive. Within two hours, her Instagram post had attracted over 20,000 comments. By the five-hour mark, the figure had crossed 40,000, as fans, colleagues and celebrities flooded the comments section with congratulatory messages.

At the time of writing this and barely 10 days after the unveiling, Toke’s Instagram post has 75,000 comments and continues to generate 75,000 reactions from fans and critics. Many hailed her story as inspirational, particularly as she is experiencing motherhood at 40, a milestone that challenged cultural expectations about timing and family.

Popular celebrities such as Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Iyabo Ojo, Adesua Etomi and others publicly celebrated the news, while fans reposted her images with beautiful captions describing her as a “beacon of hope” and a “symbol of divine timing.”

‘Unknown husband’ question
Yet, the wave of celebrations quickly gave way to speculations. Toke did not disclose the identity of the father, prompting thousands of curious and sometimes intrusive questions across social platforms.

Comments about who the “baby daddy” dominated the conversation for days. Controversial social media personality, Uche Maduagwu, weighed in with a question, somewhat rhetorical: “Toke, who gives you belle? Na married man or single, let’s know abeg.”

Another Instagram user, @halibut, commented: “Where is your husband? For you all you girls saying you can’t settle for less, can you see Toke Makinwa? She don settle for less, she no fit show her husband, maybe na gateman give her belle.” @Afroblog001 also wrote: “Thought you said you no need man for your life or na woman sperm did the job?”

The absence of clarity also gave rise to conspiracy theories. Some online users suggested she may have used a surrogate, pointing to the lack of earlier bare-belly photos. @shemstrends commented: “Why do I feel artificial and lowkey a surrogate, but however I’m feeling, congratulations to her.” Similarly, @the.halfcast wrote: “The Toke we all know will definitely want to show us the naked body of her tummy.”

The speculation gained traction until she eventually shut it down herself by posting a striking image of her bare bump.

As if that wasn’t enough, the announcement also attracted moral criticism.

Commentators questioned her decision to frame the pregnancy in spiritual terms while being unmarried, igniting heated discussions on the intersection of faith, motherhood, and societal expectations.

Popular social commentator Solomon Buchi wrote: “As a Jesus girl or Christian, we need to be very careful how we mix God with our personal decisions, decisions we have decided to pursue, whether they are Godly or not. Now I am not saying there is anything ungodly or not about having a child but you are having a child outside of wedlock, you are not married, and so there is just no need bringing God into that. There is no need spiritualizing it. Honestly you can give your testimony without implicating God’s word and His standard. Just say that you wanted to be a mother and now you are about to be a mother, or you are a mother already. There is no need to infuse God into it because, according to God’s standard, the only right way to be a parent is in the premise of marriage.”

Anothe Instagram user, @iamkennethudeh, also commented: “God’s standard is a good man and good woman to bear and raise children and live happily. Don’t normalise this abnormally for our young men and women, child without a father and you are even posting.”

While some viewed such remarks as judgmental, others felt they echoed long-standing cultural beliefs about marriage and parenting.

Throughout all the noise, Toke Makinwa has maintained her silence on the identity of her unborn child’s father, focusing instead on celebrating what she describes as a new and fulfilling season in her life

Beyond the Gossip

Beyond the frenzy, Makinwa’s announcement resonated because it spoke to broader themes: women defining family on their own terms, the intersection of faith and timing, and the pressure society places on female celebrities.

For many, her story reinforces that motherhood and fulfilment can come at any stage, irrespective of age or marital status.

As one fan wrote in a widely shared comment: “Toke’s journey is proof that delay is not denial.”

Entertainment

Music Earnings Couldn’t Have Sponsored My Wedding To Otedola’s Daughter – Mr Eazi

Published

23 hours ago

August 22, 2025

Editor

Nigerian singer and entrepreneur, Mr Eazi has insinuated that his music earnings alone couldn’t have covered the expenses of his wedding to actress Temi Otedola, daughter of billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola.

The ‘Leg Over’ crooner stated this while reacting to an X user who claimed that he was trying to recoup his wedding expenses by releasing his new single, ‘Cassanova.’

Reacting, Mr Easy said, “U think sey music go fit pay for that wedding my G? lol”.

However, another X user stated that Mr Eazi’s earnings from 2018 could have sponsored the wedding.

Responding, the singer explained that he had a successful hit-run in 2017-2018, but it was his most financially challenging year in the past decade.

“You got a point tho, but 2017-18 is the brokest I’ve been in the last 9 years! But all the music I put out then enter like mad sha im really thankful,” he wrote.

DAILY POST reported that Mr Eazi and Temi held their wedding in a private Iceland ceremony recently.

The couple got engaged in April 2022 in London, England.

Mr Eazi has previously revealed that he met Temi through her elder sister, DJ Cuppy, who was his friend.

Entertainment

Toughest Prison Is Home Without Peace’ – Naira Marley Gives Relationship Advice

Published

1 day ago

August 22, 2025

Editor

Controversial Nigerian singer and rapper, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, has shared relationship advice for singles.

The Marlian boss urged single people to be very mindful of who they choose to date or marry, stressing that the toughest prison is a home without peace.

On his X handle, he wrote, “Be careful who you date and marry, the toughest prison is a home without peace.”

Naira Marley has kept his private life from the media. Despite revealing that he has twin daughters, Aishat and Simiat, the identity of their mother has remained a secret.

In April this year, popular Instagram model and TikToker, Sandra Benede, claimed that she is the mother of Naira Marley’s twins but later denied her claims.

Recall that Naira Marley and Sandra Benede sparked relationship rumours in 2022, after she wished him a happy birthday with a cozy video of them in bed.

The couple appeared to have since separated as they stopped hanging out and posting each other.