Afrobeats sensation Naira Marley has been picked up by law enforcement authorities in Nigeria over the death of another singer.
Naira Marley was detained to assist in investigating the death of Mohbad, another Afrobeats singer from Nigeria.
The Soapy hitmaker had previously announced that he was turning himself in on Tuesday, October 3, after returning from a trip abroad.
“I’d like to share that I’ve just arrived back in Lagos, Nigeria to assist the authorities with the ongoing investigation. It’s important I do my part for Imole. I’ll be meeting with the police with hopes for the truth to be uncovered and for justice to prevail,” he said referring to Mohbad’s moniker.
The Nigerian Police confirmed Naira Marley’s arrest. Police spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin on Tuesday said that Marley had been taken into custody “for interrogation and other investigation activities”.
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MohBad’s death and Naira Marley controversy
MohBad, born Ilerioluwa Aloba was one of the rising stars on the Nigerian music scene. He passed away in a hospital in Nigeria’s commercial capital of Lagos last month. The cause of his death is still not clear.
Aged 27, the mysterious circumstances of his death, including a hurried burial just a day after he passed on, sparked outrage online. Some pointed fingers at Naira Marley who doubles as owner of Marlian Records.
Before his death, MohBad had been embroiled in a feud with Marley and his Marlian Records crew as the deceased sought to part ways with the label to pursue his career elsewhere.
Since his death, several videos have circulated in which MohBad complained that people from the label had harassed and cheated him out of his royalties. The videos deepened the calls for more investigations into his death.
Exhumation of MohBad’s body and arrest of Naira Marley’s right hand man
The agitations for further investigations into MohBad’s death gathered momentum leading the Nigerian police to exhume the late musician’s body for autopsy, the result of which is yet to be released.
Following the exhumation, the police announced they had arrested music promoter and right-hand man to Marley, Sam Larry. He was seen in one of the videos seemingly assaulting MohBad.
Burna Boy and Fireboy DML win BMI Awards
Meanwhile, two of Afrobeats’ most acclaimed stars, Burna Boy and Fireboy DML, were named among the winners at the 2023 BMI London Awards.
The Nigerian stars received the ‘Most Performed Work of the Year’ awards presented to over 20 songs.
The award comes after Last Last hitmaker was announced as headliner for the 2023 AfroNation festival scheduled for December in his home country of Nigeria.