A Coroner’s Court in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State has ordered substituted service on several key witnesses in the ongoing inquest into the death of popular singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, better known as Mohbad. This decision comes as part of the ongoing inquest into the circumstances surrounding Mohbad’s death on September 12, 2023.

The witnesses include Azeez Fashola, famously known as Naira Marley, and Samson Eletu, also known as Sam Larry, both of whom have been embroiled in controversies following Mohbad’s death. Those required to testify include prominent figures such as singer Azeez Fashola, known as Naira Marley; Samson Eletu, also known as Sam Larry; Mohbad’s sister-in-law, Karimot Ogunbayo; Boluwatife Adeyemo, referred to as Darosha; and Mohbad’s lawyer, Oluwasanmi Falade.

Other individuals summoned include Mohbad’s sister-in-law, Karimot Ogunbayo; Boluwatife Adeyemo, also known as Darosha; Mohbad’s lawyer, Oluwasanmi Falade; nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe, who reportedly treated the late singer; and Fidelis Esanbor, the driver who transported Mohbad to the hospital. Also, nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe, who treated Mohbad, and Fidelis Esanbor, the driver who transported him to the hospital, are also to be summoned.

The court’s decision to issue substituted service was granted following an application by Mohbad’s father, Joseph Aloba, who sought to ensure the attendance of these key witnesses at the inquest. The court has mandated that notices for witness summons be published in reputable national newspapers and on social media to reach several individuals. The court’s decision was communicated through a statement from the Aloba family’s legal team, which emphasised the necessity of ensuring the witnesses' prompt attendance.

The legal team representing the Aloba family, led by Mr. Wahab Shittu SAN, presented the application during the court’s session on August 16, 2024. The legal team, led by Wahab Shittu (SAN), argued for the inclusion of these individuals to clarify details related to Mohbad’s death. The court granted the request, allowing the witness summons to be served through a reputable national newspaper and social media platforms to expedite the process.

“Magistrate Sotobi, sitting at the Ikorodu Magistrate court Friday 16 August 2024 agreed with the legal team of Mohbad’s father, Joseph Aloba, that the new witnesses should be served via substituted means in a reputable national newspaper and social media to ensure prompt attendance of the new witnesses. The application also sought to recall Mohbad’s wife, Wunmi, and the police officer in charge of the case, ASP Muhammad Yusuf, to address new issues and clarify statements made about an alleged altercation in Mohbad’s home.

“The application, which was argued by the legal team led by Mr Wahab Shittu SAN (leading Emmanuel Oroko Esq., Miss. Monisola Odumosu, Emmanuel Sadoh, Dr. A.R. Ahmed, Oluyemi Osalusi Esq., Wole Ariyibi and Sadiq Kamo) representing Mr Joseph Aloba, sought an order of the coroner’s court to issue Witness Summons on interested persons as witnesses to give evidence on the connection and circumstances leading to the death of late Ilerioluwa Promise Aloba (Mohbad), who died in suspicious circumstances on September 12, 2023. Mr. Joseph Aloba also asked for an order to issue Witness Summons against Nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe, Boluwatife Adeyemo (A.K.A Darosha), Karimot Titilayo Ogunbayo, Barr. Oluwasanmi Falade (Mohbad’s lawyer), and Fidelis Esanbor (driver), Azeez Fashola (aka Naira Marley), Balogun Samson Eletu respectively, to give evidence of what they know in connection and circumstances leading to the death of Mr Ilerioluwa Promise Aloba (Mohbad), in suspicious circumstances on the 12th day of September 2023 on a date convenient and to be determined by the coroner,” the statement read. The court has adjourned the case to allow time for the witness summons to be issued and for the witnesses to appear in court.

They further asked the court that upon the grant of the orders, to grant leave to serve the witness summons to be issued on the new witnesses by substituted service by causing the said witness summons to be published in any reputable national newspaper within the country as the only viable means of service of the witness summons.

The legal team stated that efforts to get these witnesses served witness summons through the court have been unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the coroner’s court also granted the application to recall Mohbad’s wife, Wunmi, and the IPO in charge of the case, ASP Muhammad Yusuf.

A lawyer, Akinpelu Ogunbona, who argued the application on behalf of Ibrahim Owodunni aka Primeboy, stated that there were new issues both Wunmi and the police needed to shed light upon to give a clear picture of what killed the singer. According to the statement, their request to be called by Akinpelu A. Ogunbona Esq. is to make clear some ambiguous statements regarding the fight the singer’s wife alleged happened in the house.

The coroner accordingly adjourned for the order to be complied with and the witnesses to be brought to court on the next adjourned date. Mohbad, a former Marlian Music artiste, died at age 27 on September 12, 2023, under controversial circumstances that have fueled social media debates. He left Naira Marley’s record label in February 2022, after which he claimed multiple times assault and threat to life.

Mohbad died at the age of 27, on September 12, 2023, with circumstances surrounding his death sparking controversies on social media. Being a former record label signee of Marlian Music owned by Naira Marley, Mohbad left the label in February 2022. The Lagos State Police Command had on September 18, 2023, inaugurated a 13-man special investigation team to probe the singer’s death. His death also led to the arrest of Naira Marley and controversial Lagos socialite, Balogun Eletu, also known as Sam Larry, amongst others. The singer’s body was on September 21, 2023, exhumed for autopsy to unravel the cause of his death.

The ongoing investigation seeks to shed light on the circumstances surrounding Mohbad's death and determine any potential connection to the individuals being summoned, including Naira Marley and Sam Larry. This development signifies a crucial step toward uncovering the truth and ensuring justice for the late singer. The case has been adjourned to allow for the issuance of witness summons and the subsequent appearance of the summoned witnesses in court.