Naira Marley, Sam Larry File Lawsuit Against Magistrate, Police, Seek ₦40 Million in Damages

Nigerian music sensation Azeez Fashola, widely known as Naira Marley, and his associate Samson Eletu, aka Sam Larry, have taken legal action to challenge what they perceive as their “continued detention” regarding the unfortunate demise of fellow artist Ilerioluwa Aloba, known by his stage name, Mohbad.

Naira Marley and Sam Larry have initiated a fundamental rights lawsuit, filing it at the Federal High Court in Lagos. In a striking move, they have named the Lagos magistrate, Adeola Olatunbosun, and the police as defendants in the case. The core of their complaint centers around their prolonged custody and the demand for justice, specifically seeking redress in the form of financial compensation.

Both Naira Marley and Sam Larry are individually seeking damages amounting to ₦20 million from the police and the Lagos magistrate. Their lawsuit asserts that the extended detention at the Homicide Section of the Lagos State Police Command, Panti, Yaba, Lagos State, since October 4, 2023, is a blatant violation of their rights.

This legal challenge follows the magistrate’s order for Naira Marley and Sam Larry’s detention in police custody for a period of 21 days concerning the tragic death of 27-year-old Mohbad, who passed away in September. The crux of the matter revolves around the expiration of the initially ordered detention period, which the artists argue has been exceeded, thereby necessitating their immediate release.

Olalekan Ojo (SAN), the legal counsel representing Naira Marley and Sam Larry, emphasized the importance of their case in protecting their fundamental rights. The artists are now eagerly awaiting the court’s decision on whether their continued detention indeed constitutes a violation of their rights and whether they will be granted their requested release.