It has been reported by entertainment journalist, Ovie on X, that the Nigerian rapper, singer, and songwriter Mohbad passed away on Tuesday, September 12, 2023.
However, the cause of his death remains unknown at this time.
Mohbad was only 27 years old and was previously signed to Naira Marley’s “Marlian Records” label before leaving in 2022.
He was widely recognized for his hit singles, including Ponmo, Feel Good, and the sensational KPK (Ko Por Ke) collaboration with Rexxie, which was nominated three times for The Headies Awards in 2022.
Mohbad’s offstage name was Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba.
Despite his undeniable talent, Mohbad’s career was not without controversy.
In 2022, he left Marlian Records after publicly accusing his former boss, Naira Marley, of domestic violence. Mohbad alleged that he had been physically assaulted on the orders of his former mentor.
This acrimonious split was further exacerbated by Mohbad’s decision to hire a new manager to oversee his music and business affairs.
The young artist’s journey was also marred by legal troubles, as he was arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in February 2022.
Along with fellow musician Zinoleesky and four others, Mohbad was apprehended following the discovery of hard drugs, including MDMA and cannabis, in their residence in the upscale Lekki area of Lagos.
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The arrest itself was surrounded by controversy, with viral videos on social media depicting NDLEA operatives forcefully entering the musicians’ home in the early hours of a Thursday morning.
Witnesses claimed that the arrest occurred without search warrants, and they alleged mistreatment of the Marlian singers during the operation.
Shocking scenes of NDLEA officers using clubs and firing warning shots into the air as they herded the musicians into waiting trucks were widely circulated.
Despite these challenges, Mohbad was a talented artist with a devoted following, and his death is a great loss to the Nigerian music industry.
