The family of the late Nigerian singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, known as Mohbad, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Police Service Commission over the Lagos State Police Command’s handling of the investigation into his death. The family’s legal team, led by Taiwo Odumosu, expressed concerns about the professionalism, diligence, and integrity of the officers involved.
Odumosu stated, “Upon the initial report of Mohbad’s death to the Police, the crime scene was not cordoned off, a fundamental step in preserving critical evidence. This oversight is a severe lapse in protocol and undermines the investigation’s credibility.”
He further alleged, “There is evidence that Ilerioluwa Oladimeji installed CCTV in his apartment and it was functional. However, upon the incident of his death, the DVR of the newly installed and functioning CCTV was removed. Yet the professional investigators saw nothing wrong in such and kept mute about it.”
The family also cited an alleged inadequate response when Mohbad’s father, Joseph Aloba, sought assistance at the police station. According to Odumosu, “Instead of receiving prompt assistance and support by initiating an immediate investigation and potential arrest, Mohbad’s father was allegedly denied the police report after waiting about three hours.”
Odumosu noted further lapses, saying, “The scene of the crime, which should have been sealed off by the police to preserve evidence, was inexplicably left open. This lack of security at the scene is unimaginable and highly unprofessional. It compromises the integrity of potential evidence and undermines the investigation.”
He also raised concerns about a potential cover-up, questioning, “It is imperative to question who the officers might be protecting, on whose instruction, and why such a high-profile case is being handled with such apparent disregard for standard investigative procedures.”
The family has called for the replacement of the current team handling the investigation with experienced investigators from the Force Headquarters. They demanded, “These investigators should conduct a comprehensive and unbiased investigation, considering all available evidence and testimonies. Bring all police officers involved to justice.”
Responding to the petition, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said, “Since it is a petition before the IG as you claimed, we await his position on that before we know what to do.” Meanwhile, the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, did not respond to calls or messages at the time of this report.
