Coroner’s Court Orders Substituted Service on Key Witnesses in Mohbad’s Death Probe
A Coroner’s Court in Ikorodu, Lagos State, has ordered substituted service on key witnesses in the ongoing inquest into the death of singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad. The court granted the application by Mohbad’s father, Joseph Aloba, to serve witness summons on additional witnesses through a reputable national newspaper and social media.
The witnesses listed include Azeez Fashola, also known as Naira Marley; Samson Eletu, also known as Sam Larry; Mohbad’s sister-in-law, Karimot Ogunbayo; Boluwatife Adeyemo, also known as Darosha; and Mohbad’s lawyer, Oluwasanmi Falade. The nurse who treated Mohbad during his illness, Feyisayo Ogedengbe, and the driver who drove him to the hospital, Fidelis Esanbor, are also on the list.
Magistrate T. A. Sotobi granted the application, agreeing that the new witnesses should be served via substituted means in a reputable national newspaper and social media to ensure prompt attendance. The legal team representing Mohbad’s father argued that efforts to get these witnesses served witness summons through the court have been unsuccessful.
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, argued 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.
Mohbad died at the age of 27 on September 12, 2023, with circumstances surrounding his death sparking controversies on social media. The singer was a former record label signee of Marlian Music owned by Naira Marley, and his death led to the arrest of Naira Marley and controversial Lagos socialite, Balogun Eletu, also known as Sam Larry, amongst others.
