Aide Denies Davido's Involvement in VDM and Naira Marley Controversy
Israel DMW defends the Afrobeats star, stating he had no role in alleged plots to arrest social media activist VeryDarkMan.
The personal logistics manager for Afrobeats singer Davido, Israel Afeare, publicly defended the musician against recent allegations linking him to controversies involving social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, commonly known as VeryDarkMan, and singer Naira Marley. Speaking out on Thursday via Instagram, Afeare stated that Davido played no part in any discussions or plots regarding the arrest of VeryDarkMan.
The controversy intensified following claims from VeryDarkMan that his relationship with Davido deteriorated after he obtained WhatsApp conversations involving members of the singer's inner circle. The activist alleged that these chats centered on plans to have him detained due to his persistent inquiries regarding the death of late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, widely known as Mohbad, and his active participation in the Justice for Mohbad campaign.
Addressing the leaked chat allegations, Afeare asserted that any members of Davido's crew present in the WhatsApp group participated entirely without the artist's knowledge or formal approval. He also dismissed accusations that Davido attempted to acquire Mohbad's music catalog or sign Marlian Music artist Zinoleesky, stating that those who provided that information to the activist were completely untruthful.
Afeare further shed light on Davido's stance during the intense public fallout that followed Mohbad's tragic passing in September 2023 at the age of 27. According to Afeare, despite facing significant pressure to publicly distance himself from Naira Marley by unfollowing him on Instagram, Davido refused to act on unverified rumors and instead insisted that law enforcement be allowed to conduct a proper investigation.
Emphasizing that Davido and Naira Marley remain on good terms following a previous musical collaboration, Afeare also addressed a separate altercation at Naira Marley's residence. He clarified that the incident involved a minor disagreement between a former member of Davido's 30BG crew and an associate of Naira Marley, assuring the public that no physical violence or attacks took place.
Meanwhile, the broader fallout surrounding the controversy continued to draw comments from other figures within the entertainment community. Naira Marley's brother, Shuddy, recently called for peace on social media following Lil Frosh's public remarks accusing VeryDarkMan of fabricating claims involving Davido and Zinoleesky.
Shuddy noted in an Instagram post that multiple private apologies had already been exchanged behind the scenes and expressed a willingness to move past the ongoing disputes. However, he questioned the logic of publicly denying events that many individuals involved knew to have occurred, urging participants to avoid unnecessary online drama.