Lagos magistrates court authorises police to detain Naira Marley and Sam Larry for a further 21 days

MUSIC producer Azeez Fashola popularly known as Naira Marley and Lagos socialite Balogun Eletu widely known as Sam Larry have both been remanded in custody for a further 21 days by a Lagos magistrates court as the saga over the death of singer Mohbad continues.

On September 12, Mohbad, 27, passed away at a Lagos hospital after being treated for an infection. His death is being treated as suspicious by his fans, especially as it comes in the wake of a very public falling out between Mohbad and his mentor, singer and songwriter Naira Marley.

After two years of working together, Mohbad announced he was leaving Naira Marley's  Marlian Records. On 5 October 2022, Mohbad then accused Naira Marley of assault, stating that his former boss ordered people to beat him up after he announced his intention to employ a different manager to handle his music and business affairs.

Nigerian celebrities and aggrieved music fans took to the streets to demand justice for the late singer. Responding to this pressure, the Lagos State police commissioner put together a 13-man investigation team headed by assistant commissioner of police Saheed Kassim to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death.

With the case now ongoing a magistrates court in the Yaba area of Lagos State remanded both Marley and Sam Larry for a further 21 days. In court, the Lagos State Police Command had sought a 30-day remand for them to complete their ongoing investigations but Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun ruled that a 21-day remand would suffice.

Both men had been detained under the 48 hour constitutional provision as part of the ongoing investigation into the death of late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad. Police spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin, said they went to court to get a remand warrant and this has now been issued.

Mr Hundeyin added: “They were not arraigned for the case itself but were taken to court for us to get a remand warrant to enable us to detain them beyond the constitutional 48 hours provision, so that we’re not accused of over-detention. To get the remand warrant, we needed to present the people in court."

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command has declared a singer and friend of the deceased Owodunni Ibrahim also known as Prime Boy wanted over his failure to honour an invitation to the police station. Mr Hundeyin said: “Following his failure to honour police invitation successfully sent to him since the commencement of investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of Mr Ilerioluwa Aloba aka Mohbad, the Lagos State Police Command hereby declares wanted Owodunni Ibrahim aka Primeboy.

“Ibrahim is approximately 1.64-m tall, male, dark-complexioned with tribal marks and Yoruba by tribe. His last known address is 3rd Power, Oke Eletu, Ikorodu. If seen, contact the nearest police station or call 0803 688 5727. The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Idowu Owohunwa, hereby offers a handsome reward of N1,000,000 to anyone with useful information leading to his arrest."