- Sam Larry, a controversial show promoter, made a virtual appearance at the coroner’s inquest into the death of late Afrobeat singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, also known as Mohbad.
- Sam Larry denied any involvement in Mohbad’s death or any past assaults, denying any involvement in the allegations against him.
Controversial event promoter Sam Larry has publicly addressed allegations linking him to the death of Afrobeat artist Ilerioluwa Aloba, widely known as Mohbad. He made these remarks during a virtual appearance at the ongoing coroner’s inquest into the singer’s passing.
In his statement, Sam Larry denied ever assaulting or threatening the late singer. “I am a show promoter. The only relationship I had with Mohbad was to give him shows. I never harassed or molested him. I have never beaten him before,” he told the court.
He went on to explain that friction between them started after he invited Mohbad to perform at his birthday party in Dubai. According to Sam Larry, he paid the artist ₦2 million as part of the deal and spent over ₦20 million organizing the event and arranging travel for Mohbad, his wife, and manager. However, Mohbad failed to attend the performance, which sparked their fallout.
“I sent him a message on Instagram to refund my money but he didn’t reply. I went to report him to my lawyer and my lawyer called him but he didn’t pick,” he added.
Recounting a specific encounter on June 25, 2023, during a video shoot at Elegushi Beach, Sam Larry said he confronted Mohbad but did not attack him. He added that fellow singer Zlatan calmed the situation and later even dined with both of them, suggesting that the issue had been resolved.
Following the incident, Mohbad filed a police report accusing Sam Larry of bringing armed men to the beach and damaging equipment. Sam Larry was later invited by police and detained at Alagbon for questioning. Despite multiple invites, he claimed Mohbad never showed up to follow through with the complaint. This led Sam Larry to file a counter-petition.
“Till he died, he didn’t pay my N2 million. He died three months after we met at Elegushi,” Sam Larry said, adding that he was in Dubai at the time he received news of the singer’s passing and was deeply saddened by it.
He also addressed a viral video in which he was allegedly heard saying “won ti gbe sin” (meaning “he has been buried”), claiming the clip was taken out of context. He said it was recorded back in 2013 and originally posted on Snapchat, unrelated to Mohbad.
Concluding his testimony, Sam Larry called on the authorities to focus on those who were physically present with Mohbad in the 24 to 48 hours leading to his death. “They know what really happened to him,” he emphasized.
