I pray people forgive Naira Marley’s shortcomings, says TeeBillz

Tunji Balogun, the Nigerian talent manager better known as TeeBillz, says Naira Marley “deserves forgiveness for his shortcomings”.

The Marlian Music label head has been in the public eye since the death of Mohbad, his former signee.

Mohbad passed away on September 12 and was buried the following day.

The circumstances surrounding his death have continued to stir up controversies on social media, with many music lovers pointing accusing fingers at Marley.

Mohbad’s highly publicised yet controversial departure from Marlian Music also allowed a plethora of wild rumours to fester — since there was no love lost between the pair.

In October 2022, Mohbad alleged he was assaulted by the record label’s head honcho. He also asked his fans to hold Naira Marley responsible if any harm came his way.

Since Mohbad’s demise, thousands of Nigerians have called for the ban of Marlian Music, while nationwide protests have been held to demand justice for the singer.

But in a post via Instagram on Monday, TeeBillz described Naira Marley as “young, talented, and one of the best songwriters of the new age”.

TeeBillz argued that Marley did not commit “a deliberate crime”, adding that he “invested in Imole’s talent” when the singer was alive.

TeeBillz appealed to people to forgive the Marlian Music head and not throw him under the bus of cancel culture.

“Too young, too talented to throw under the bus of cancel culture! One of the best writers of the new age! Guilty by association is not a deliberate crime to me,” he wrote in the now-deleted post.

“I pray people forgive Naira Marley of his shortcomings and I hope God gives him a second chance to attain his blessings as a bonafide leader and influencer.

“Just yesterday when everyone and their mama was a glorified Marlian, Naira believed and invested in Imole’s talent when none of the after death advocates of love did. May our creator bless us where we lack knowledge and wisdom.”

In a follow-up post, the talent manager explained why he deleted the post.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Billz Vizion 👁 (@teebillz323)

“I deleted my last post bcos my big bro @tolaodunsi enlightened me about the gravity of the ongoing investigation and I respect the facts!” he wrote.

“I wish you disrespectful souls can share the same energy when you see me in person… pls try!”

Marley earlier said he would return to Nigeria to assist in the ongoing investigation into Mohbad’s death.

He also insisted that “I have no hand in Mohbad’s death” and “certainly have no reason to be a fugitive”.

On September 21, the police exhumed Mohbad’s corpse for autopsy and are awaiting the results.