Nigerian Afrobeats star Mohbad passed away on Tuesday, his associate and musician Olamide said in a statement.
Mohbad, aged only 27 with offstage name Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, first rose to prominence as part of Naira Marley’s “Marlian Records” label. His tunes and unique style quickly garnered him a devoted following. The cause and details surrounding his death have not been sufficiently understood at the time of filing this story.
Notable among his chart-topping tracks are “Ponmo,” “Feel Good,” and the sensational “KPK (Ko Por Ke),” a collaboration with Rexxie. This particular track earned him three nominations at The Headies Awards in 2022, showcasing his undeniable talent.
However, just two years ago, Mohbad made a significant decision, parting ways with Marlian Records in 2022. This decision came on the heels of a public dispute between Mohbad and his former label boss, Naira Marley. The young artist accused Naira Marley of domestic violence, alleging that he had been physically assaulted on the orders of his former mentor. This acrimonious split was precipitated by Mohbad’s choice to hire a different manager to oversee his music and business affairs.
The young artist’s journey was also marred by legal troubles. In February 2022, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) apprehended Mohbad, along with fellow musician Zinoleesky and four others. The arrest was made following the discovery of hard drugs, including MDMA and cannabis, in their residence in the upscale Lekki area of Lagos.
The arrest itself was surrounded by controversy, as viral videos on social media depicted NDLEA operatives forcefully entering the musicians’ home in the early hours of a Thursday morning. Witnesses claimed that the arrest occurred without search warrants, and they alleged mistreatment of the Marlian singers during the operation. Shocking scenes of NDLEA officers using clubs and firing warning shots into the air as they herded the musicians into waiting trucks were widely circulated.