A Lagos High Court has scheduled July 2 to deliver its judgment in a high-profile legal challenge brought by Joseph Aloba, the father of late Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad. Aloba is contesting the legal advice issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), which cleared several key suspects linked to his son’s mysterious death.
In February, a Yaba Magistrate Court, acting on the DPP’s recommendation, discharged popular artist Naira Marley, show promoter Sam Larry, musician Prime Boy, and Pere Babatunde, stating they had “no case to answer” in the ongoing investigation into Mohbad’s death.
Dissatisfied with the decision—particularly as the coroner’s inquest was still underway—Aloba filed a lawsuit in March, seeking to overturn the legal advice and calling for a fresh review of the suspects’ involvement.
At the latest hearing, Justice Taiwo Olatokun heard final arguments from both sides before fixing July 2 for judgment. Wahab Shittu, representing Aloba, argued that the DPP’s advice was premature and undermined the integrity of the coroner’s inquest, which had yet to reach a conclusive verdict.
Joke Amachree, counsel for the Lagos State Attorney General and the DPP, countered that the suspects were discharged, not acquitted—leaving the door open for further investigation if new evidence emerges.
In a counter affidavit filed on June 24, Ayinde Ibrahim, a legal assistant from the DPP’s office, stated:
“The suspects who were released by the 2nd respondent’s legal advice were not acquitted but were only discharged. The coroner is yet to deliver any verdict that implicates them.”
The DPP also argued that the process of reviewing the police investigation and issuing legal advice was lawful and did not require prior notification to the coroner.
They urged the court to dismiss Aloba’s application “in the interest of justice.”
Mohbad, aged 27, died under unclear circumstances on September 12, 2023—a tragedy that triggered widespread outrage and calls for accountability across Nigeria. In the wake of his death, Naira Marley and Sam Larry were arrested in October and held in detention for over five weeks before being released on bail in November.
