Mohbad: Naira Marley Demands Apology from Iyabo Ojo for Defamation of Character

Nigerian entertainer, Afeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, has found himself entangled in a legal battle with Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo. The dispute arises from allegations made by Ojo in a September 2023 Instagram post, where she accused Naira Marley of being involved in spiritual and physical dealings with the late singer, Mohbad. 

Naira Marley, through his lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, has demanded a public apology and filed a lawsuit seeking N500 million in damages. The legal battle between Naira Marley and Iyabo Ojo highlights the power and impact of social media in shaping public opinion and, at times, causing significant damage to one’s reputation. While Naira Marley seeks justice and vindication, Iyabo Ojo faces the prospect of a substantial legal battle. 

Why Naira Marley’s took the legal action

Naira Marley, an internationally renowned British-Nigerian singer and artist with a massive following, was engaged by the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to use his influence to discourage substance abuse among Nigerian youths. However, things took an unexpected turn when Iyabo Ojo, a popular actress, took to her official Instagram account to make serious accusations against Naira Marley.

In her post, Iyabo Ojo alleged that Naira Marley was responsible for causing mental harm to Mohbad, whom she referred to as a brother. She went on to claim that Naira Marley had laced the food and drinks given to the boys staying with him with drugs, leading to destructive consequences in their lives. These allegations were posted on the internet, making them accessible to a global audience and causing significant harm to Naira Marley’s reputation.

Iyabo Ojo asked to apologise within seven days

Naira Marley’s legal counsel, Olalekan Ojo, wasted no time in responding to the allegations. In a letter dated 12 December, Naira Marley’s attorney accused Iyabo Ojo of disseminating false, malicious, and libelous content about his client. The letter also demanded a public apology to be posted on Ojo’s official Instagram account and published in a national daily within seven days. Failure to comply with these conditions would result in a lawsuit seeking N500 million in damages against the actress and a court injunction to prevent her from making similar defamatory statements.

What you should know about Mohbad

In September, something bad happened to Mohbad that led to his death with no reports of the cause of his death yet. Before he passed away, Mohbad had said that if something happened to him, it might be Naira Marley’s fault.

Sadly, Mohbad died in a situation that was confusing and had arguments about bullying, attacks, and threats from Naira Marley and his friend, Sam Larry. But Naira Marley and his friends were arrested by the police and allowed to leave jail temporarily, with some conditions. Since Mohbad’s death, Iyabo Ojo has been working hard to get justice for him.

How Iyabo Ojo tries to get justice for Mohbad

Iyabo Ojo’s involvement in this saga intensified after Mohbad’s death. She accused Naira Marley of bullying Mohbad and causing the trauma that ultimately led to the singer’s demise. In one of her online posts, Ojo explicitly pointed fingers at Naira Marley, stating that he had a hand in Mohbad’s suffering, both spiritually and physically. She urged Naira Marley to come forward and defend himself against these allegations.