Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Naira Marley has been taken into custody as part of a special investigation initiated in September to uncover the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of fellow Nigerian singer Mohbad.
The Lagos State police made this announcement on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday evening.
Benjamin Hundeyin, spokesperson for the Lagos State Police, stated, "Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, has been detained by the police for questioning." He also included the hashtag #JusticeforMohbad.
Just minutes before this announcement, Naira Marley himself took to the same social network, where he boasts nearly 5 million followers, to declare that he had "returned to Lagos to cooperate with the authorities in the ongoing investigation."
He added, "It's crucial for me to contribute to the Imole (Mohbad's nickname) case. I will be meeting with the police in the hope that the truth will be uncovered, and justice will prevail."
Mohbad, whose real name was Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, was the talent behind hit songs like "Feel Good" and passed away in Lagos on September 12 at the age of 27, under circumstances that remain unclear. This led to the launch of a special investigation.
Mohbad's death not only sent shockwaves through Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, where he enjoyed immense popularity but also prompted numerous claims from fans and those close to him that he had faced months of harassment and physical threats from influential figures within the music industry.
Mohbad's rise to stardom began in 2019 when he signed with the prominent Marlian music label, owned by the renowned rapper Naira Marley. However, tensions between them escalated in 2022, leading to the termination of their collaboration. In recent days, many fans have accused Naira Marley and his team of being connected to Mohbad's untimely demise, as evidenced by an online petition with over 250,000 signatures.
Naira Marley has consistently denied these allegations through multiple press releases, expressing his devastation at the loss of "a brother" and a "friend" while he was overseas.