The Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has granted Mr. Joseph Aloba, the father of late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad, permission to challenge the legal advice issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). This advice had cleared singer Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley, and others of any wrongdoing in relation to Mohbad’s death.
Justice Taiwo Olatokun, who presided over the case on Friday, allowed Aloba to initiate a judicial review and ordered that the motion on notice be served on the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN, as well as the hearing notice and the granted order.
Aloba, through his lawyer Wahab Shittu, SAN, filed an ex parte motion in which he sought to nullify the DPP’s legal advice that led to the acquittal of Naira Marley, Samson Eletu aka Sam Larry, Owodunni Ibrahim aka Prime Boy, and Babatunde Pere. Aloba argued that the advice was premature and unlawful, as it preempted the findings of the ongoing coroner’s inquest into his son’s death.
The motion explained that the coroner’s inquest, which began on September 29, 2023, had not yet completed its investigation into Mohbad’s controversial death before the DPP issued its legal advice. Aloba contended that the discharge and acquittal of the suspects by the Yaba Magistrate Court on February 26, 2025, following the DPP’s advice, occurred before the conclusion of the inquest.
“Pursuant to the Applicant’s request to determine the circumstances leading to the death of his son, the inquest was referred to the Coroner’s Court with suit no. COR/IKD/10/2023 before Coroner Magistrate T. A. Shotobi and commenced sitting on September 29, 2023, and the proceeding is yet to be concluded,” the motion stated. It continued, “That while the proceeding is yet to be concluded by the Coroner’s Court, on the 26th February 2025, Magistrate Ejiro Kubenje sitting at Yaba Magistrate Court acting on the legal advice of the Respondents discharged and acquitted the four prime suspects, AbdulAzeea Fashola aka Naira Marley, Samason Balogun Eletu aka Sam Larry and Owoduni Ibrahim aka Prime Boy, and Opere Babatunde in the controversial death of late Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba AKA Mohbad.”
Aloba further revealed that several key individuals summoned by the Coroner’s Court and mentioned in the inquest had been released prematurely and had not yet appeared to clarify their involvement in the case. He also stated that the police and DPP acted without informing the Coroner’s Court, which obstructed the inquest’s statutory duties.
“That the police and the respondents, through their senior counsel participated in the coroner’s proceedings. The State CID, Panti, forwarded the case containing their investigation to the respondents without informing the Coroner’s Court, and while both offices, particularly the respondents, were aware of the coroner’s inquest proceeded to issue legal advice which prompted the magistrate court to discharge and acquit the prime suspects in the controversial death of late Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, also known as Mohbad,” the motion explained.
A hearing for the matter is scheduled for June 17.
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