Isreal: Davido did not plot VDM arrest

Davido in October 2024. File photograph. OLAMIPOSI DANIEL / Wikimedia Commons, cropped, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Davido’s logistics manager, Isreal DMW, has said individuals associated with a disputed WhatsApp group acted without the singer’s approval, rejecting allegations that Davido participated in a plan to have VeryDarkMan arrested.

In a statement shared on Instagram on Thursday, 5 November, Isreal also denied that the singer played a role in the controversy involving Naira Marley following Mohbad’s death.

His response followed allegations by VeryDarkMan, whose real name is Martins Vincent Otse, about conversations purportedly involving members of Davido’s circle and other entertainment personalities.

VeryDarkMan claimed that participants discussed securing his arrest because of his questions about Mohbad’s death and his involvement in the campaign seeking justice for the late singer. He also alleged that attempts to contact Davido for an explanation received no response, according to The Punch’s account of the dispute.

Isreal maintained that Davido neither directed nor approved the participation of people linked to him in the WhatsApp group.

“Those who were in that WhatsApp group, got there without his instructions or approval,” he said.

He separately challenged claims concerning Mohbad’s recordings and a possible signing of Zinoleesky. Isreal said the information reportedly supplied to VeryDarkMan about Davido’s interest in the late singer’s catalogue was false.

“Oga called for Mohbad’s catalogue or even made attempt to sign Zino? How na? Those who told VDM that, fully lied,” he stated.

Isreal also questioned suggestions that Davido had involved himself in a dispute concerning music producer Samklef.

Addressing another allegation about an encounter at Naira Marley’s residence, he attributed the disagreement to Tolu, a former member of Davido’s 30BG circle, and an associate of Naira Marley.

He denied that the encounter involved a physical attack.

“On the issue that happened in Naira’s house, it was our then Tolu 30BG who had issues with one of Naira’s boys. Nobody was beaten or attacked,” he added.

The logistics manager further said Davido remained on friendly terms with Naira Marley. He referred to their previous musical collaboration while disputing accounts suggesting hostility between them.

“Naira and Oga are cool. They even made a hit song,” he said.

Isreal recalled that people had urged Davido to stop following Naira Marley on Instagram during the controversy surrounding Mohbad’s death. According to his account, Davido refused and said investigators should establish what happened.

“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.