By Ayomide Otitoju
The Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has fixed July 2, 2025, for judgment in an application filed by Mr. Joseph Aloba, father of the late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad. Mr. Aloba is seeking to nullify the legal advice issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), which exonerated singer Naira Marley and show promoter Sam Larry of any involvement in his son’s death.
Presiding judge, Justice Taiwo Olatokun, reserved judgment after hearing submissions from Mr. Wahab Shittu, SAN, counsel to the applicant, and Joke Amachree, representing the respondents—the Attorney General of Lagos State and the DPP.
Mr. Aloba, who is suing on behalf of the Aloba family, contends that the DPP’s legal advice pre-empted the ongoing Coroner’s inquest, which is still investigating the circumstances surrounding Mohbad’s death. He argues that key individuals who were mentioned during the inquest were prematurely cleared of suspicion, thereby undermining the inquest process and violating his right to fair hearing.
In response, the DPP’s office filed a counter-affidavit on June 24, deposed by legal officer Ayinde Ibrahim, who stated that the suspects were not acquitted but discharged, pending the outcome of the legal review based on the police’s case file.
The DPP maintained that its decision was based on a thorough review of the duplicate case file submitted by police investigators. According to the affidavit, there was no credible evidence linking Abdulazeez Fashola (aka Naira Marley), Samson Balogun Eletu (aka Sam Larry), Owoduni Ibrahim (aka Primeboy), or Opere Babatunde to the late singer’s death.
The DPP’s role is to determine if a prima facie case exists against any suspect based on evidence presented in the case file, while the Coroner determines the cause, time, and manner of death.
The respondents argued that Mr. Aloba had not presented any new, credible evidence to warrant a reversal of the DPP’s decision and that his claims were speculative. They also stated that neither Mr. Aloba nor the Coroner had access to the criminal case file that formed the basis of the legal advice.
“The Applicant did not personally conduct any investigation or engage private investigators who found incriminating evidence to establish culpability,” the DPP noted in its filing, adding that no fresh evidence had been presented during the inquest to contradict the findings of the legal advice.
They further asked the court to dismiss the application in the interest of justice, affirming that the process followed was lawful and in line with statutory duties.
The court is expected to deliver its ruling on July 2, a decision that could determine the future of legal proceedings tied to Mohbad’s controversial death and public demand for accountability.
