Afrobeats superstar Davido’s personal logistics manager, Israel Afeare, popularly known as Israel DMW, has strongly denied any involvement by his principal in the controversies surrounding Naira Marley and social media activist VeryDarkMan following the death of late singer Mohbad. The clarification comes a day after VeryDarkMan publicly detailed the alleged genesis of his fallout with Davido, claiming members of the singer’s circle plotted his arrest.
In a statement posted on Instagram on Thursday, Israel DMW addressed Nigerians directly.
“Dearest Nigerians. My boss had no hands in Naira Marley’s ordeals during his trying times in Mohbad’s case or in any plot to see VDM get arrested. Those who were in that WhatsApp group, got there without his instructions or approval,” he wrote, insisting that any crew members who joined the group did so independently and without Davido’s knowledge.
VeryDarkMan, whose real name is Martins Vincent Otse, had earlier released a video explaining how their once-friendly relationship collapsed. He recounted that Davido followed him on social media, after which they grew close.
“After Davido followed me, I was excited. After then, we became cool. If he drops music, I’ll show love by promoting it. We had a couple of conversations in the DM, but to be very honest, it was always him asking for favours. I’ve never asked him to do anything for me,” he said.
The activist claimed that in 2025 he obtained WhatsApp conversations involving actresses Iyabo Ojo and Tonto Dikeh, music producer Samklef, K-Solo, and members of Davido’s DMW crew. According to him, the chats discussed plans to have him arrested in 2024 because of the persistent questions he raised about Mohbad’s death and his role in the #JusticeForMohbad campaign.
“I was surprised. Me and Davido, we were cool, and me and the same crew guys were always laughing. How come these guys were the ones who planned my arrest when I was spending months in Kuje?” he questioned.
VeryDarkMan said he repeatedly tried to reach Davido for clarification but received no response. He described the silence as a deep betrayal.
“I was betrayed. I was like, why? I just wanted to confirm something. I wanted to ask why your boys were in such a WhatsApp group. When he did that, it was very, very disappointing,” he stated.
He later sent a message telling Davido, “For you to plan my downfall like this, if I see you here, I pass like this. You see me, I pass. And you laugh with me.”
Israel DMW also dismissed other claims circulating about Davido. He denied that the singer tried to acquire Mohbad’s music catalogue or sign Marlian Music artiste Zinoleesky, calling such reports lies. On pressure to unfollow Naira Marley after Mohbad’s death, he said Davido refused.
“Serious pressure even came for my boss 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 in any hearsay,” Israel explained.
He added that Davido and Naira Marley remain on good terms and even collaborated on a hit song.
Regarding an alleged altercation at Naira Marley’s residence, Israel clarified that it involved a disagreement between a former 30BG member named Tolu and one of Naira’s associates, insisting that no one was beaten or attacked.
Mohbad, whose real name was Ilerioluwa Aloba, died on September 12, 2023, at the age of 27. The subsequent public outcry fuelled the #JusticeForMohbad campaign. In July 2025, a Lagos coroner’s court ruled out homicide and deliberate foul play, identifying a possible fatal reaction to substances administered by an unlicensed nurse as a plausible explanation and recommending the nurse’s prosecution.
The latest exchange has reignited online discussions about the lingering tensions from the Mohbad case, with fans divided between those who see VeryDarkMan’s claims as serious and those who accept Israel DMW’s firm defence of Davido.