Joseph Aloba, the father of late singer Mohbad, has filed a legal request at the Ikeja State High Court to overturn a ruling that freed four key suspects in his son’s mysterious death.
Aloba, represented by his lawyer Dr. Wahab Shittu (SAN), is challenging the legal advice given by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), which led to the release of Abdulazeez Fashola (Naira Marley), Samason Balogun Eletu (Sam Larry), Owoduni Ibrahim (Prime Boy), and Pere Babatunde.
Aloba believes the DPP’s advice was unfair and ignored an ongoing coroner’s inquest into Mohbad’s death. He argues that:
- His right to fair hearing under the Nigerian Constitution was denied.
- The DPP’s advice came before the coroner’s investigation was completed.
- Some suspects who were implicated in the coroner’s inquest were released without fully testifying.
Aloba stated that his son’s death on September 11, 2023, was suspicious. To uncover the truth, he requested a formal investigation, which led to a coroner’s inquest. The inquest, led by Coroner Magistrate T.A. Shotobi, began on September 29, 2023, and is still ongoing.
Despite this, on February 26, 2025, Magistrate Ejiro Kubenhe of the Yaba Magistrate Court dismissed the case against the four suspects based on the DPP’s legal advice.
In his affidavit, Aloba highlighted several issues:
- The police and DPP issued their legal advice without waiting for the coroner’s findings.
- The coroner’s investigation should have been completed before any legal decision was made.
- The DPP’s actions could interfere with the investigation and affect the outcome.
Aloba believes that the court’s decision to release the suspects undermines the credibility of the coroner’s inquest and could prevent justice for his son.
Aloba is asking the court to intervene and overturn the legal advice, ensuring that all necessary investigations are completed before any final decisions are made. He believes that ignoring the coroner’s inquest weakens the justice system and may allow those responsible for Mohbad’s death to go free.
He assured the court that granting his request would not harm the government’s case but would ensure that the right process is followed.
The legal battle continues as Aloba fights to uncover the truth behind his son’s tragic death.