Joseph Aloba, the father of the late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has once again shared insights into the difficulties and challenges surrounding his son’s career, the controversies linked to his former record label, and the circumstances surrounding his untimely death.
In a detailed interview with Sunday Scoop, Aloba refuted claims made by Naira Marley, the singer’s former record label boss, insisting that Mohbad endured mistreatment and suffered significant challenges during his life in the music industry. He emphasized that these issues were overlooked or downplayed by those close to the late artist, especially by Marley, who recently released a statement denying any wrongdoing in relation to Mohbad’s struggles or tragic passing.
According to Aloba, while Marley claimed his involvement was purely to guide Mohbad—particularly after noticing the singer’s alleged use of hard substances—there were instances that suggested a more complex and troubling dynamic. Aloba recounted, “I went to see Naira Marley over some of the things Mohbad had said, and that was all. But later, a lot of other things happened that I personally witnessed. There were about three other people present at the time; two of them are still alive today. They were people working with Naira Marley, even though they were younger and still under him. One of them once came to me to report that Naira Marley was beating Mohbad.”
He further elaborated on an incident when he and his family visited Marley to address some concerns, only to be met with disrespectful behavior. Aloba clarified, “When we went to see him to apologise, he wasn’t even speaking respectfully. People think I went there to collect money, but life is much more than just what I want to eat.”
In addition to these claims, Aloba addressed the issue of Mohbad’s financial transactions and allegations that he conducted dealings through an unfamiliar bank account. He noted that Marley had expressed concern over the matter, insisting that the late singer’s use of a different account raised questions about financial management. Aloba said, “Naira Marley complained to me that he (Mohbad) was collecting money with an account that is not his and that he (Naira Marley) had to force him to use his personal account. I also saw that he was sending me money from a strange account and I warned him that anything he wants to give me should come from his own account. That’s what I know about the account issue.”
Throughout the interview, Joseph Aloba maintained that his primary concern is the truth regarding his son’s treatment, the challenges Mohbad faced in the music industry, and the legacy of the late artist. He stressed that while Marley has publicly distanced himself from any responsibility, the evidence and testimonies from those who witnessed events first-hand indicate that Mohbad’s life and career were marred by mistreatment and misunderstanding.