The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has refuted claims made by the police that it failed to respond to an inquiry regarding the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, better known as Mohbad.
The Nigerian Police in Lagos State had asserted during a news conference on Friday that the NDLEA had not confirmed social media reports alleging the arrest and detention of Mohbad on February 24, 2022.
In addition to the alleged arrest, the online posts also claimed that Mohbad had been administered a substance while in NDLEA detention.
Dismissing the police’s assertion, the Director of Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, clarified that the anti-drug agency had responded to the police’s inquiry as early as September 28.
“To demonstrate the seriousness with which the NDLEA attached to the police’s inquiry, our formal response dated Thursday, September 28, was sent to Lagos by air, delivered, and received by the police the same day,” Babafemi stated.
He further summarised the content of their response, stating that Mohbad was neither arrested nor detained by the NDLEA on February 24, 2022, or any other date, before or after.
News About Nigeria reports that Babafemi stressed, “The foregoing being the case, the issue of giving him any substance to drink does not arise.”
Babafemi backed his statement with an acknowledged copy of the NDLEA’s response, indicating that the police had received it in Lagos on September 28.
The death of Mohbad, a 27-year-old musician, occurred under controversial circumstances on September 12, and he was subsequently buried on September 13. However, his corpse was exhumed on September 21 for autopsy.
His passing sparked protests across several states, with fans and celebrities demanding justice amid suspicions that there may be more to Mohbad’s death than initially apparent.
In connection to Mohbad’s demise, the police have apprehended music promoter, Balogun Eletu, also known as ‘Sam Larry’, and Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley.
These arrests were made due to multiple confrontations they had with Mohbad before he parted ways with Marlian Records, which is owned by Naira Marley.
Additionally, Owodunni Ibrahim, widely recognized as ‘Primeboy’ and a close associate of Mohbad, is also in police custody over the matter.
