Two days ago, Naira Marley threatened to sue Nigerian actress Iyabo Ojo for N500 million.

In a letter addressed to the actress, Naira Marley through his counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN) & Co., accused Iyabo of publishing false and malicious content about him on her Instagram account. The letter stated that in an Instagram post published in September 2023, Iyabo accused Naira Marley of dealing with late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, spiritually and physically. The singer also stated that the actress accused him of destroying Mohbad mentally. The singer asked that the actress publish an apology on her official Instagram account and in a national daily within 7 days of receiving the letter and that failure to do so would result in them commencing legal proceedings and they will demand damages of N500 million from the actress.

In a post shared on her Instastories, Priscilla expressed shock at Naira Marley’s audacity to sue her mum. Read her post below

In a letter sent to  Ojo, Naira Marley’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, outlined the accusations made in a September 2023 post, stating that the actress accused Naira Marley of engaging in spiritual and physical dealings with the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, widely known as Mohbad.

The lawyer further asserted that  Ojo accused Naira Marley of causing mental harm to Mohbad, whom he referred to as a brother.

Naira Marley’s attorney is seeking a redress of N500 million from Ojo and a public apology.

The counsel asked that the apology be posted on  Ojo’s official Instagram account and published in a national daily.

According to Naira Marley’s lawyer, failure to adhere to the condition placed before her would force them to file a lawsuit against her.

The letter in part reads, “We are Solicitors to Azeez Fashola (a.k.a. Naira Marley) an internationally renowned British and Nigerian Singer/Artist with over seven million followers hereinafter referred to as our client pursuant to whose instruction we write concerning the aboveheaded subject matter. It is necessary to preface this letter by stating that in recognition of the iconic status of our client, the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) engaged him to use his skills and platforms to put out content that will discourage millions of his followers and Nigerian youths from substance abuse.

“It is our instruction that sometime in September 2023, you maliciously and falsely published of and concerning our client on your official instagram handle ‘iyaboojofespris’ the following words: and destroying their lives and leaving them without a kobo to get help…….you go still explain taya bcos evidence dey, that your interview you go still re do am again…….make we get justice for Mohbad first. It is unarguably clear that the above quoted words are in their ordinary and natural meanings meant or were understood to mean by ordinary right thinking members of the public that have read the post that our Client is a drug addict and that he laced the food and drinks which our Client gave to the boys staying with him with drugs with the resultant effect of occasioning monumental destruction of their lives.

Your publication of the above words on the internet which is readily accessible to users of the system constituted a very serious libel and has caused our client colossal damage to his reputation. It is incontestably clear that the above-quoted publication which has been read by countless internet users globally is defamatory of our Client and has brought him to public ridicule and contempt with the resultant damage to our Client’s reputation. “It is our further instruction that since the publication our Client has been inundated with calls from his followers, colleagues, friends and fans all over the world who had read the post expressing their disgust and dismay at the defamatory and libellous publication you had maliciously and falsely posted on your official instagram handle “iyaboojofespris” of and concerning our Client.”

Joined as defendants in the suit filed before the Federal High Court in Lagos were the police and the Lagos magistrate, Adeola Olatunbosun, who ordered their remand in police custody for 21 days.

Naira Marley and Sam Larry are each demanding N20m damages from the defendants.

In the suit filed through their lawyer, Mr Olalekan Ojo (SAN), they are urging the court to declare that the continued detention “at the Homicide Section of the Lagos State Police Command, Panti, Yaba, Lagos State since October 4, 2023,” constituted a violation of their rights.

They are seeking “an order of the court releasing the applicants forthwith.”

In the affidavits attached to their suits,  deponents said, “Their travails started between October 3 and 4, 2023 when they were arrested by the police on the alleged connection of the applicants with the death of one Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad.

“On the 4th day of October 2023,  the Commissioner of Police sought an order in the Magistrates’ Court, held at Yaba to remand them for 30 days.

Chief Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun granted the police application to remand them for only 21 days in the custody of the police.

“The 21-day remand order granted by Chief Magistrate Olatunbosun has since lapsed on October 26, 2023, and the order has not been renewed.”

The police command declared Prime Boy wanted in a statement on Wednesday by its spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin.

Hundeyin said the police had placed N1m bounty on Prime Boy, described as a “male, approximately 1.64-m tall, complexioned with tribal marks and Yoruba by tribe.”

“If seen, contact the nearest police station or call 0803 688 5727. CP Idowu Owohunwa hereby offers a handsome reward of N1,000,000 to anyone with useful information leading to his arrest,” Hundeyin noted.

Meanwhile, a Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Yaba, on Wednesday, granted the police an order to detain controversial musician, Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, in their custody for 21 days.

The late Mohbad was formally signed to Naira Marley’s Malian record label but they fell out. The deceased had alleged intimidation by Naira Marley and his associates.

The court also ordered the police to remand for 21 days a Lagos socialite, Balogun Eletu, also known as Sam Larry; a nurse alleged to have injected the late singer, Fisayo Ogedengbe, and another fellow, Sadiq Ayobami,  who claimed to be the late singer’s friend.

The four defendants were remanded at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, pending the completion of the police investigation.

Naira Marley had on Tuesday turned himself in to the police, after which he was detained.

On Wednesday, the police approached the magistrates’ court with a remand application requesting that Naira Marley and the three other defendants be remanded for 30 days.

However, the magistrate, Olatunbosun granted the police 21 days to complete their investigation.

Olatunbosun however, granted the defendants access to medicals and lawyers of their choice.

The case was adjourned till October 25, for the report of the police investigation.

Also at the plenary on Wednesday in Abuja, the House of Representatives assured the family of late Mohbad, of its commitment to secure proper compensation and royalties from his music works.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Justice, Olumide Osoba, representing the Abeokuta North/Odeda/Obafemi-Owode Federal Constituency of Ogun State, stated this during an interactive session on the rights and royalties of the deceased rapper who passed on September 12.

The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance earlier moved by Babajimi Benson, the lawmaker representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Lagos State.

“It is crucial to recognise that young musicians are often not well-informed about their rights when entering into contracts,” he said.

The radio station disclosed this in a post shared on its Instagram handle (@freshfm1069adoekiti) and signed by its Head of production and Music Content, Oluwaseunfunmi Williams.

The ban follows the death of Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Oladimeji, popularly known as MohBad, and criticism surrounding Naira Marley.

Earlier, on Monday, a radio broadcast station, Splash FM 105.5 Ibadan, Oyo state, banned the playing of songs by Naira Marley.

Mohbad, a former signee of Naira Marley at Marlian Records, died at the age of 27 last Tuesday.

Following the public outcry from the general public trialing the death of Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba (Mohbad), the alleged victimisation from different videos going viral and the involvement of members of his previous record label (Marlian records), fresh 106.9 fm has suspended the airplay of all songs and contents under the banner of Marlian Records,” it said.

Also, another private radio station in Ibadan, Agidigbo FM, has banned playing of the artiste’s song for the same reason.

The Lagos State Police Command, on Monday, set up a special investigative team to probe the death of Mohbad and is expected to submit an interim report within two weeks.

The team, consisting of 13 members, is “to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of the victim, identify witnesses, culprits if any and any person that will be helpful to the investigative process and deploy processes and other technological tools to aid the investigative course in line with the relevant provisions of the Nigeria Constitution and the State Laws,” a document signed by the Lagos spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, reveals.

Recall that in June 2023, singer Mohbad had filed a petition before the Nigerian Police alleging Sam Larry who also goes by the name SamLarry Elegushi assaulted him during a music video shoot and went on to boast that nothing would happen as he works for the King.

In a statement released this evening, the Elegushi family says SamLarry does not work for the king or the monarch in any capacity and is also not a member of the royal family.

See statement

The singer in a tweet posted yesterday evening said at about 9 am today, he would be leading a peaceful protest in Lagos.

Reacting to his tweet, the Minister appealed to him and others to shelve the protest as their grievances regarding SARS and police brutality are currently being addressed.

The Minister tweeted “I urge you and other youth not to embark upon any protest. Your grievances are being addressed at the highest level of government. As the Minister in charge of youth, I know this is an issue that must be tackled. Government is doing just that”

Speaking during the daily COVID19 briefing of the Presidential Task Force, PTF,  the minister for aviation, Hadi Sirika, said that the aviation sector was misled because the flight was approved for a different purpose entirely.

According to the minister, the aircraft was meant to be used to fly an Appeal Court Judge, Justice Adefope Okogie, from Lagos to Abuja but instead, it was inappropriately used for conveying Naira Marley.

Sirika explained that the company and the flight captain has been suspended indefinitely for providing false information to convey the singer to Abuja for the show, adding that they will not escape the arms of the law.

He, however, promised that more strict regulations will now be put in place to ensure that there are no loopholes in the aviation sector.

This comes after the hip-hop artiste, Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley, held a concert at the Jabi Lake Mall on Saturday against the warning issued by the PTF as part of the measures to stop the spread of COVID-19.

PTF Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, who spoke during the daily task force briefing on Monday said, “Gatherings are still not open of any form, we must avoid it either driving, shows, rallies or whatever categories, be responsible. The lifted restriction does not mean carelessness and that life is normal. Yes, there is a normal – but it is a new normal.”

While reacting to the Saturday incident,  Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC,  Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, also expressed his disappointment sayings:  “We must discourage ourselves from attending mass gatherings. The mass gathering that happened in Abuja that has been all over the media, there were people there – Nigerians that looked themselves in the eyes and said nothing and celebrated each other for being there. Not a single person stood up and said in the context of what is happening and for the sake of my parents at home, let’s stop this concert.”

“Yes, there will be a lot of discussions about the mall, about the regulations, about the flight, and you’ll hear some of them but for me, the most disturbing thing is the people that attended and said nothing and enjoyed the event. The health of each of us is dependent on the actions that each of us takes over the next few months,” the NCDC boss said,

Though the date the trial is expected to take off was not announced, the case twas adjourned to enable EFCC’s counsel Mr Rotimi Oyedepo and Naira Marley’s counsel Mr Olalekan Ojo SAN to respond to two motions.

Recall that Naira Marley was arrested on May 10 by the anti-graft agency, who subsequently filed an 11-count charge of alleged credit card fraud against him on May 14 in a suit marked FHC/L/178C/19. The singer pleaded ‘Not Guilty’ to the charges as it was further learnt that his co-defendant, Yad Isril is still at large.