A court has granted permission for substituted service to be served on Naira Marley and Sam Larry in connection with the ongoing case surrounding the late singer Mohbad, marking a key development in the investigation.
The ongoing inquest into the death of singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad, has prompted a Coroner’s Court to order substituted service on crucial witnesses residing within the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
The individuals on the list are Azeez Fashola, professionally known as Naira Marley; Samson Eletu who goes by Sam Larry; Karimot Ogunbayo, Mohbad’s sister-in-law; Boluwatife Adeyemo also referred to as Darosha and lastly, Oluwasanmi Falade – Mohbad’s legal representative.
On the list were also Feyisayo Ogedengbe, who allegedly treated the deceased during that period and Fidelis Esanbor,who drove him to the hospital.
Through a reputable national newspaper and social media, witness summons can now be served on additional witnesses as per the application granted by Magistrate T. A. Sotobi upon Mohbad’s father Joseph Aloba’s request.
On Thursday, the Aloba family’s legal team sent a statement signed by Monisola Odumosu to PUNCH Metro. The statement reported that during the court’s session on August 16th, an order was granted.
According to the legal team, they additionally requested for a witness summons from the coroner’s court in order to compel interested parties to provide evidence pertaining to Mohbad’s death and its surrounding circumstances.
On Friday, August 16th, 2024, Magistrate Sotobi of the Ikorodu Magistrate court concurred with Joseph Aloba’s legal representatives in regards to Mohbad’s father. They both agreed that alternate means should be utilized to notify new witnesses by publishing their summons on credible social media platforms and a reputable national newspaper for timely response.
According to the statement, Mr. Joseph Aloba’s legal team led by Mr Wahab Shittu SAN (including Emmanuel Oroko Esq., Miss. Monisola Odumosu, Emmanuel Sadoh, Dr. A.R Ahmed, Oluyemi Osalusi Esq., Wole Ariyibi and Sadiq Kamo) made an application seeking a Witness Summons order from the coroner’s court for interested parties to give evidence on the connection and circumstances of late Ilerioluwa Promise Aloba’s suspicious death on September 12th ,2023. Mr.Joseph requested similar orders against Nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe,Boluwatife Adeyemo(A.K.A Darosha),Karimot Titilayo Ogunbayo,Barr.Oluwasanmi Falade(Mohbad’s lawyer); FidelisEsanbor(driver),AzeezFashola(aka Naira Marley),BalogunSamsonEleturespectively;all regarding their knowledge related to Ilerioluwa PromiseAloboMohbad’s demise.The date will be convenient&determined in future bythe Coroner Court,the report concludedin this regard.
They requested the court to authorize substituted service by publishing the witness summons in a reputable national newspaper within the country, as an effective method for serving it on new witnesses once orders are granted.
The legal team reported that they have been unsuccessful in their attempts to serve witness summons through the court for these witnesses.
At the same time, authorization was given by the coroner’s court to bring back Wunmi, Mohbad’s spouse, and ASP Muhammad Yusuf who is responsible for handling the case.
Akinpelu Ogunbona, the lawyer representing Ibrahim Owodunni (also known as Primeboy), asserted that both Wunmi and the police must address new matters to elucidate what caused the musician’s death.
The statement explains that their reason for requesting to be addressed by Akinpelu A. Ogunbona Esq. is to clarify certain vague remarks concerning the reported altercation between the singer’s spouse and himself in their residence.
The coroner adjourned the proceedings until the next scheduled date, in order for compliance with orders and for witnesses to be present.
Controversies on social media were sparked by Mohbad’s death at the age of 27, which occurred on September 12, 2023.
Mohbad, previously signed to Marlian Music which is owned by Naira Marley, departed from the label in February 2022. On September 18th of 2023, a special investigation team consisting of thirteen individuals was established by the Lagos State Police Command with the aim to investigate Mohbad’s demise.
The demise of the individual also resulted in the apprehension of Naira Marley and Balogun Eletu, a contentious social figure from Lagos who is alternatively recognized as Sam Larry.
On September 21, 2023, the body of the singer was exhumed for an autopsy to determine what caused his death.
