Mohammed Shosanya

All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, has emphasized the need for regulating and institutionalizing the music entertainment industry as it joins millions of African youths and music fans to express grief over the demise of Nigeria’s singer, Mohbad, (real name Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba).

Mohbad died in a mysterious circumstance on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, that is still under police investigation.

The President and Executive Producer, AFRIMA, Mike Dada, in a statement, while lamenting that Africa has lost a promising talent in its growing music industry in a shocking manner, noted that institutionalization of the music/entertainment industry remains a top priority in curbing the unprofessional practices that have been existing within the industry in Africa.

He said; “On behalf of the International Committee of AFRIMA, we condole with Nigeria’s music industry, parents and fans of Mohbad, over his painful demise. The death of Mohbad is a tragic event that has left us all deeply saddened. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones of the deceased during this difficult time.

“With his demise, Africa has lost a promising talent in our growing music and entertainment industry. We pray God to grant him eternal rest, and grant his parents, family, and teeming fans the fortitude to bear his irreplaceable loss.”

“AFRIMA is spearheading efforts to mobilize stakeholders in the creative industry in Africa, with a focus on Nigeria, to establish institutionalized operations and regulate the music entertainment industry.”

According to Dada, this includes the enactment of legislation that sets industry standards, regulations and compliance for music record labels, performing artistes, music publishing companies, entertainment lawyers and other professionals.

“It is necessary to have a law that regulates the music industry to prevent it from becoming an unregulated free-for-all, as currently, the entry requirements are low such that anyone can just wake up and establish a music record label.

“To address this issue, African countries must establish a Music Institute to certify practitioners regularly.

AFRIMA is leveraging its platform to organize a stakeholder summit aimed at engaging the legislative arm of governments across Africa through the African Union.

“AFRIMA urges stakeholders, including relevant government officials and agencies, artistes, record labels, A&R, producers, promoters, artiste’s managers, brands, songwriters, DJs & video vixens, video directors, equipment production and rental companies, publishing companies, streaming service companies, entertainment lawyers, royalty companies, choreographers/dancers, entertainment/music journalists and media, culture and music enthusiast, other supporting professionals: cameramen, editors, make-up, hairstylist, costumiers, among others, to participate in this crucial process. We urge stakeholders to submit their proposed legislation for review and consideration,” the AFRIMA President added.

Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh has said that Lagos socialite,Samson Erinfolabi Balogun,popularly known as Sam Larry will not escape the wrath of the law over his alleged role in the death of Late Nigerian singer,Ilerioluwa Aloba,popularly known as Mohbad.

This is coming after Sam Larry came under heavy fire on the internet after a video of him and his men were seen disrupting and bullying Mohbad in a video shoot with Zlatan Ibile.

She disclosed this on her Instagram page on Thursday.

She wrote:”Now listen up,we will get you.Whether you run from Kenya to kafanchan or run up an anus you will be brought to justice.

“We are not a lawless country like you and yours think. We have woken up, You have not only hurt Mohbad and his family, you have hurt us all..

“I need you to seat down alone in front of the mirror and take a good look at yourself and re evaluate your life.

“You said you love him like your own right?. Oya come now let’s do the Candle Night together (show face abeg).

“A grown man B@llying a 27year old child, nahhh You are A Weak Azz cow@rd Sam Larry .You couldnt look for your peers? I bet you can’t

She warned Sam Larry to stop following her on Instagram.

She said:”Hhh, It’s the Audacity that Sam Larry started following me. Like I get “keep thy en@my close”

Joseph Aloba, the father of the late rapper, Ilerioluwa Aloba popularly known as Mohbad, has explained why he buried his son quickly.

Aloba claimed in a recent interview that he was only respecting the Yoruba culture when he buried the artist quickly.

According to him,it is customary not to delay burial if both parents are still alive.

“In Yoruba land, his corpse is not the kind to be kept when both of his parents are still alive.That land where Mohbad was buried is his only land, that is the only land I know him to have owned.

“Truly he gave me the land to build my church because we had both agreed to build the church there and since that’s the only land I knew him to have,” Aloba explained.

Nigerian Afrobeat singer, David Adeleke, also known as Davido, says the death of Mohbad has made it difficult for him to fall asleep.

He disclosed this in a post on his Instagram story, after confirming he would be present at the candlelight procession to honour the late singer on Thursday.

“On the way 🇳🇬.Mohbad ur spirit strong ooo..sleep come hard me,” he wrote.

The procession will begin at the Lekki Phase 1 gate and end with a tribute concert at Muri Okunola Park.

The statement said:”We appreciate the outpouring of love from fans across the world, to the ones who’ve organized events in their communities as a way to honor and pay respect to our shining light we say thank you. Join us for Mohbad’s Candlelight Procession and Tribute Concert.”

Singer Azeez Fashola aka Naira Marley has
stated the need to investigate the death of the label’s ex-signee,MohBad

He also expressed sadness that Mohbad didn’t get a befitting burial.

He said in a statement on his Instagram on Friday.

The statement partly read, “Mohbad is an incredible street pop star who contributed to the foundation of the Martian Music. Despite his departure last year we continually championed his talent.

“No family is perfect, families have disagreements but no harm whatsoever was wished on Mohbad. So many things left unsaid but the love was always there. This tragedy is not only a loss for us but to everyone you touched musically around the world.

“As we share our condolences to the late Mohbad, we would like to echo a call for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

“We’re unhappy and unsettled with everything we have witnessed since Tuesday the 12th Sept. We owe it to Mohbad to assist with uncovering any foul play or injustice.

“Our brother deserved a better send off, it saddens us that we couldnt assist with providing a befitting burial. We will continue our efforts to reach out to the family.”

The management of late singer Oladimeji Aloba, aka Mohbad,says it will continue the fight to retrieve the singer’s unpaid royalties held by his former record label, Marlian Music.

This was contained in a statement released on the singer’s Instagram page .

It said:”Before his passing, Mohbad was in court to retrieve the majority of his songs and unpaid royalties which were wrongfully held by Marlian Music.

“We will continue the fight to retrieve his catalog and unpaid royalties so that through these, those he left behind, especially his son, Liam Imole, will be provided for.

“We want #JusticeforMohbad, and we will appreciate all the support we can get in this fight to retrieve his catalog from Marlian Music, as this is the justice that Mohbad was working towards.”

Nigerian skit maker and Actress, Adebola Adeyela, popularly known as Lizzy Jay, has expressed her frustration over an attempted blackmail she’s s currently facing.

She shared a video on her verified Instagram page, revealing that someone threatened to release her nude photos.

Stating how the blackmailer gained access to video of her private areas, she revealed that she was ill and taking antibiotics a few months before now.

She claimed she had a severe reaction to the medications, including itchy skin, rashes in her intimate areas, and bleeding in her vagina.

On account of that,she sent pictures of the affected areas, to her doctor, who is also her close friend, for him to give her a prescription.

She is receiving threats, as regards the video,adding that the man accessed her Snapchat account by hacking her email account and getting hold of the footage.

She said: “I have been receiving calls for some days now from someone who claims he has my nudes.

“The video in his hands was the video I recorded through Snapchat when I reacted to a certain medication, and I had rashes all over my body, including my private part. I couldn’t have a physical examination with my doctor, so I made a screenshot of the part I wanted him to see in the video.

“I sent it and deleted the video immediately. The man trying to blackmail me hacked into one of my email accounts and used it to access my Snapchat. I will be visiting the police PRO to make a formal complaint and give them every detail and picture I could find connecting to the blackmailer”.

“For the past few days, I have received calls and messages from someone who claims to have my nudes. The calls and comments on my page are aimed at forcing me to a negotiation table to become a victim of blackmail,” Lizzyjay narrated.

The Nigerian Police may exhume the body of the late Afrobeat singer, Oladimeji Aloba popularly called Mohbad,to conduct autopsy on the cause of his death.

It said that all measures that could unravel causes of the artiste death would be adopted and implemented to apprehend anyone that may have been involved circumstances that led to Mohbad’s demise.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin,disclosed this during a social media live session with a popular media personality.

“If need be, the body will be exhumed. It’s not too late. The body can be exhumed and autopsy can be performed”.

Hundeyin appealed that Nigerians should approach the police with genuine information that could fast-track their investigations.

He cautioned Nigerians that they should not flood the police with less relevant evidence, saying, this will slow down the probe into Mohbad’s death.

He assured that the police will protect the identities of anyone that provide information that could aid the police on this investigations.

He added:”We want Nigerians with genuine evidence to come forward to fast-track the investigations. We assure you of the protection. And they can reach me through my phone numbers and social media handles, I will forward it to the team investigating the case”.

He had earlier said in a statement on Thursday noted that the police would probe the singer’s death.

He said:“The Force PRO issued a statement this evening saying that investigation will commence and that’s what we’re going to do.

“The statement also states that people should bring whatever information they have to the commissioner of police in Lagos State.

“That’s because we don’t want to do hierarchy anymore. Take it to Force CID, bring it to Lagos Command. It doesn’t matter. We’re going to harmonise it within ourselves and ensure that justice is done.”

Actress Moyo Lawal has reacted to the viral sex video of her which was leaked online on Saturday.

In her Instagram page on Sunday, Lawal first confirmed she was the person in the tape before debunking rumours that she authorised the distribution of the said tape.

“A private video of mine from a while ago has been inappropriately shared without my consent, violating my privacy and trust,” her statement began.

“I want to emphasise that this video was done with my ex whom I was to marry at that time, was never intended for public consumption and its unauthorised distribution is a breach of my boundaries. However this criminal breach of privacy will be treated with legal action,” the statement read.