A WhatsApp group is now at the centre of the latest chapter in the Mohbad saga, and Davido’s team wants everyone to know he never sanctioned it.
Isreal DMW, the singer’s longtime logistics manager, has come out swinging against claims that his boss was involved in any plan to get social media activist VeryDarkMan arrested.
Isreal posted a statement addressed to Nigerians, insisting Davido had no hand in the controversies that swirled around Naira Marley during that period.
According to him, the people in the WhatsApp group allegedly tied to the plot were there on their own. “Those who were in that WhatsApp group, got there without his instructions or approval,” he said.
The backdrop here is still raw for a lot of fans. Mohbad, the former Marlian Music signee, died in September 2023 at the age of 27, and the circumstances sparked a nationwide outcry, street protests and a police investigation that drew in his former label boss Naira Marley. VeryDarkMan was one of the loudest online voices pushing for answers at the time.
Isreal also took aim at a string of specific claims that appear to have reached VeryDarkMan. He dismissed the idea that Davido was beefing with producer Samklef, who was outspoken after Mohbad’s death, or that the singer tried to grab Mohbad’s catalogue or sign Zinoleesky, another former Marlian act. “
Oga called for Mohbad’s catalogue or even made attempt to sign Zino? How na? Those who told VDM that, fully lied,” he said.
The most revealing part of the statement might be what happened behind the scenes. Isreal claims Davido faced heavy pressure back then to unfollow Naira Marley on Instagram, a move that would have read as a public verdict. Davido apparently refused flat out.
“Serious pressure even came for Oga then to unfollow Naira on Instagram, and he said it categorically, No, that he wants the police to do their job, that he doesn’t want to believe on any hearsay,” Isreal said. He added that the two artists remain on good terms. “Naira and Oga are cool. They even made a hit song.”
There was also the matter of a reported incident at Naira Marley’s home, which has fuelled plenty of speculation online. Isreal says it was far smaller than people think, involving Tolu, a former member of Davido’s 30BG crew, and one of Naira Marley’s associates. “Nobody was beaten or attacked,” he said.
Not everyone will take the statement at face value. VeryDarkMan built his following by challenging powerful figures, and the claims Isreal is rejecting came from somewhere, which leaves open the question of who was feeding information into that group chat. Supporters of the Mohbad justice campaign have long been wary of industry insiders closing ranks.
On the other side, Davido’s camp is framing this as a case of rumours being stitched together into a narrative that never existed.
With VeryDarkMan rarely one to let a story drop quietly, a response from him or the people he says briefed him could land any moment.
