By Ayodele Johnson

For a while, things have looked rough for Marlian Music World owner Azeez Fashola who is also known as Naira Marley. Now, he looks like he is enjoying a bit of respite after a Magistrate Judge, Adeola Olatunbosun of the Yaba Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 6 November 2023, granted him bail in the sum of ₦20 million.

The grant comes 34 days after the label exec announced his police surrender in order to help out with investigations into the death of a former signee, Ilerioluwa Aloba ‘Mohbad’ whose passing in September sent out waves of grief.

But it wasn’t only Naira Marley who received bail from the judge. His close associate, Balogun Eletu ‘Sam Larry’ was also let out of confinement. Both were listed among five prime suspects whose actions of alleged cyberbullying may have ended the life of the deceased at the age of 27.

Judge Olatunbosun reportedly mentioned as part of the requirements for bail that “the defendants are to surrender their passports and make weekly appearances at the State Criminal Investigation Department” until further notice.

ALSO READ: A quack nurse, fistfight with a childhood friend – all that led to Mohbad’s death on concert night

While the defendants are on bail, they are to keep away from the judge because any effort to make contact will lead to the interaction being “recorded and potentially disclosed in open court proceedings”, which could make things worse for the duo.

The pair have repeatedly denied any complicity in the unexpected exiting of the deceased although, during his life, there were reports of a heightened state of unhappiness due to a toxic relationship amongst the trio.

One time while performing in a music video shoot, vandals believed to be linked with Naira Marley or his record label reportedly disrupted activities and that led to Mohbad incurring losses amounting to millions because of ruined equipment. As a result of all this involvement, fans and the music world gravitated from adulation that greeted Naira Marley’s art of creativity to sympathy over the singer’s death.

While Naira Marley might feel like he has been utterly misjudged, it is only a judge’s banging of the gavel that can clear him from the mess he finds himself in. Part of his schedules in the past weeks has been an expected appearance before a parliament committee that needed him over to discuss the payment of benefits owed to Mohbad while he was signed to his label although there hasn’t been any details shared about the outcome of said meeting.

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