A Coroner’s Court in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria has threatened to issue subpoenas against key witnesses who failed to appear at the ongoing inquest into the death of Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.
Magistrate T. A. Sotobi granted an application by Mohbad’s father, Joseph Aloba, to serve witness summonses via a national newspaper and social media.
The witnesses include Naira Marley (Azeez Fashola), Sam Larry (Samson Eletu), Mohbad’s sister-in-law Karimot Ogunbayo, his lawyer Oluwasanmi Falade, the nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe, and the driver Fidelis Esanbor.
Only one key witness, Boluwatife Adeyemo (aka Darosha), appeared at the last court session. Magistrate Sotobi warned that if the others do not appear at the next sitting on September 30, they will be subpoenaed.
The legal team representing Mohbad’s family expressed frustration with the police investigation into the singer’s death, accusing the police of not conducting a thorough investigation and relying heavily on witness statements without evidence. The family’s lawyer criticized the police for their lack of cooperation in conducting an independent autopsy and toxicology test.
Mohbad, a former signee of Marlian Music, left the label in February 2022. The Lagos State Police Command formed a 13-man special investigation team in September 2023 to probe his death. His body was exhumed for an autopsy on September 21, 2023, to determine the cause of death.
