Nicknamed the “Marlian President,” the controversial musician Azeez Fashola, known as Naira Marley, enjoyed a dedicated fan following and a lifestyle that many of his peers could only dream of.
However, on September 12, 2023, tragedy struck when his former protege, Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad, passed away in contentious circumstances.
Before his untimely death, Mohbad had raised concerns about harassment and assault allegedly orchestrated by Marley himself, following Mohbad’s departure from Marlian Music.
In the aftermath of this heartbreaking incident, Naira Marley faced vehement criticism from Nigerians, with many demanding his arrest.
He maintained that he was out of the country when Mohbad passed away and would only return if the police could ensure his safety.
Consequently, many of his Instagram followers unfollowed him, causing a significant drop in his follower count within a short time frame.
Ultimately, Naira Marley arrived back in Nigeria on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, via the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, where he was promptly taken into custody by the police and detained in cell D4 of the Lagos State Police Command’s Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti, Yaba, Lagos.
During a visit to the SCIID on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, Naira Marley appeared visibly downcast and isolated, escorted by police officers and his associate, Balogun Eletu, aka Sam Larry.
He was dressed in a simple outfit, unlike his usual flamboyant style, and his demeanor was far from lively.
He had recently appeared in a magistrate court, where the police obtained a remand warrant to extend his custody beyond the constitutional 48-hour limit.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Naira Marley was reportedly treated respectfully by the police. He exhibited some of his outgoing nature, albeit in a subdued manner.
Meanwhile, his associate, Sam Larry, seemed stern and aloof.
While waiting at the premises, a trader noted that she had seen Naira Marley interacting positively with others throughout the day.
However, the opposite was observed in Sam Larry, who came across as stern and unapproachable.
According to a police officer, the detainees were housed in separate rooms, with a VIP room available but lacking air conditioning.
Visitors were allowed, and they brought food for Naira Marley.
Moreover, Naira Marley faced additional legal troubles, as Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, issued a production warrant against him.
The judge instructed Naira Marley’s lawyer to produce him in court on October 30 for prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on 11-count charges related to conspiracy and credit card fraud. The EFCC clarified that it was not their responsibility to transfer him from police custody.
