EMBATTLED Nigerian artiste Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, and Lagos socialite, Balogun Eletu, also known as Sam Larry, regained freedom on Friday, November 17, after spending over 40 days in Police custody.
The Lagos state Police command public relations officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said they were released after meeting their bail conditions.
Hundeyin confirmed this to The ICIR in a text message, noting the two were released around 5 p.m. on Friday, November 17.
Their release came 12 days after they were granted bail on the condition that they must provide N20 million bond with three sureties and also submit their international passports.
The court also ordered them to make weekly appearances at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Both Naira Marley and Sam Lerry were arrested and detained upon their return to Nigeria in connection with the death of musician Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.
The young singer was arrested on October 3, 2023, while his counterpart, Larry was arrested on Thursday, September 29, 2023.
The ICIR reports that following the arrest, the two were charged with accusing and harassing the deceased singer by the Lagos State Police Command and taken into custody.
However, both Naira Marley and Sam Larry sternly denied having a hand in Mohbad’s death.
On Wednesday, October 4, a magistrate court in Lagos ordered Naira Marley and Sam Larry to remain in Police detention and were asked to be held without bail for 30 days, pending the conclusion of the investigation.
Meanwhile, The ICIR reported on Tuesday, October 31, that Naira Marley and Larry sued the Nigerian Police and the Lagos magistrate, Adebola Olatunbosun, over their continued detention.
The suspects filed a fundamental rights suit to challenge their continued detention over Mohbad’s passing.
In the suit filed before the Federal High Court in Lagos, both Marley and Larry sought N20 million in damages from the defendants.
According to the suit filed through their lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, a senior advocate, they urged the court to declare that their continued detention “at the homicide section of the Lagos State Police Command, Panti, Yaba, Lagos State since October 4, 2023,” violated their rights.
The deponents, in the affidavits accompanying their lawsuits, stated that their ordeal began between October 3 and 4, 2023, when they were arrested by the Police over their alleged link with Mohbad’s death.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: [email protected]. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M