Mohbad Death Mystery Returns to Court as Fresh Push for Police Probe Gains Momentum
Nearly three years after the death of Nigerian music sensation Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, the legal battle over the circumstances surrounding his passing has taken a fresh turn, with a Federal High Court in Abuja setting Sept. 29 for judgment in a suit seeking to compel the police to reopen investigations into the case.
Justice James Omotosho fixed the date on Thursday after hearing submissions from counsel to the applicant, Chief Tunde Falola, in a case that has reignited public interest in one of Nigeria’s most controversial celebrity deaths.
The suit, filed by the Registered Trustees of Break the Silence Foundation, an advocacy organisation, seeks an order of mandamus directing the police authorities to conduct a fresh investigation into the singer’s death.
Notably absent from the proceedings were the respondents—the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command—who did not send legal representatives to court.
Mohbad died on Sept. 12, 2023, in Lagos, sparking widespread public outrage, demands for accountability and numerous calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
When the matter came up on Thursday, Falola adopted all the processes filed on behalf of the foundation and urged the court to grant the reliefs sought.
The court also considered an application by Mr Samson Obaboye, who sought to be joined in the case. Obaboye told the court that he supported calls for truth, transparency, accountability and justice regarding the circumstances surrounding Mohbad’s death and wished to place relevant facts before the court.
However, Justice Omotosho dismissed the application, ruling that the applicant had failed to establish sufficient legal interest in the matter to justify his inclusion in the proceedings.
The court had earlier granted leave to the foundation to initiate the action through an ex-parte application for judicial review, allowing it to pursue an order compelling the police to revisit the investigation.
Speaking with journalists after the hearing, Falola explained that the organisation decided to approach the court because it was dissatisfied with the outcome of the earlier police investigation.
According to him, several important aspects of the case and potential leads were not thoroughly examined, particularly concerning individuals believed to have been among the last people seen with the late singer.
“The circumstances surrounding his death remain mysterious and deserve public attention.
“As a human rights organisation seeking justice, we believe the police should reopen the investigation,” Falola said.
He maintained that the lawsuit was specifically designed to compel law enforcement authorities to revisit the circumstances surrounding Mohbad’s death and determine whether crucial investigative steps were overlooked.
Falola also defended the court’s decision to reject the joinder application, arguing that the applicant had not shown any direct interest in the case.
As the nation awaits the court’s judgment in September, the case continues to underscore lingering questions surrounding Mohbad’s death and the enduring public demand for answers, accountability and closure.
