By Cynthia Johnson
Barr. Gani Arobo, a lawyer to embattled Marlian Records boss, Azeez Fashola, also known as Naira Marley, has insisted that his client is innocent of all allegations of bullying Mohbad, a former signee of his record label, who died on September 12, 2023.
He also disclosed that Mohbad, Sam Larry, and Zlatan Ibile ate amala after the incident in the viral video where the music promoter allegedly led thugs to disrupt a video shoot.
QUEST TIMES learned that Arobo made the disclosure in an interview with media personality, Daddy Freeze, in a video posted in the wee hours of Sunday.
He said, “As for Naira Marley, I believe you will not find a single incident where Naira Marley bullied him. Now, as for Sam Larry, what I understand, speaking to his lawyers and speaking to him directly, is that on that fateful day, I think it was sometime in June 2023, he came to Elegushi Beach for something else and then as soon as he walked in, I think they told him that some musicians were shooting video somewhere around the beach.
“So, of course, being someone involved in promoting music and all that, he wanted to know who and who was involved in that activity.
“So, he went there, and as soon as he got in there, so, to confirm that he did not know it was Mohbad – remember that if you look at that video – the first thing that came out of his mouth was ‘iwo tie ni, ah o l’ole l’oni (so it’s even you, you won’t go to your house today).’ Immediately he said that, you will observe that Zlatan got up trying to stop him from approaching Mohbad. And that video is a nine-second video, Daddy Freeze, it will interest you to know that there is a longer version of that video.
“I will send these materials to you. The longer version of that video shows these guys eating Amala together shortly after that incident, you won’t believe that. Zlatan was wearing the same shirt he was wearing at that video shoot, Sam Larry was wearing…(injected), I think Mohbad had changed his own clothes, but that same day, they went to eat Amala together.
“I don’t want to rant out Zlatan, but I expect that Zlatan would come out and clarify this issue because we know what he said to people, including Davido, as it relates to the incident. He was specific about whether Sam Larry did anything to Mohbad on that day. But Daddy Freeze, don’t take my word for it!”
Arobo’s statements are in line with Naira Marley’s previous denials of any wrongdoing.
Recall that Naira Marley said he never bullied Mohbad and that the two were friends.
However, some people believe that Arobo’s statements are not credible. They point to the fact that the video of Sam Larry confronting Mohbad shows that Larry was aggressive toward the younger singer.
It is important to note that Arobo is a lawyer and is representing Naira Marley in court. As such, he is obligated to defend his client to the best of his ability.