The Coroner’s Court in Ikorodu, Lagos State, has ordered substituted service on key witnesses in the ongoing investigation into the death of popular musician Ilerioluwa Aloba, widely known as Mohbad.
News About Nigeria reported that Mohbad, who was 27 years old, died on September 12, 2023, under circumstances that have sparked widespread controversy and debate on social media.
Among those to be served are Azeez Fashola, also known as Naira Marley; Samson Eletu, aka Sam Larry; Mohbad’s sister-in-law, Karimot Ogunbayo; Boluwatife Adeyemo, aka Darosha; and Mohbad’s lawyer, Oluwasanmi Falade.
The list also includes nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe, who reportedly treated Mohbad before his death, and Fidelis Esanbor, the driver who transported him to the hospital.
Magistrate T. A. Sotobi granted a motion by Mohbad’s father, Joseph Aloba, to serve a witness summons on these individuals through a recognised national newspaper and social media.
The court’s decision was announced by the Aloba family’s legal team, led by Wahab Shittu SAN, in a statement released on Thursday.
The legal team had requested that the coroner’s court issue witness summonses to these individuals to provide evidence related to the circumstances surrounding Mohbad’s death.
The court agreed that the new witnesses should be served through substituted means to ensure their prompt attendance.
The legal team also pointed out that previous attempts to serve these witnesses through the judicial system had been unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, the court approved an application to recall Mohbad’s wife, Wunmi, and ASP Muhammad Yusuf, the investigating police officer in charge of the case.
Akinpelu Ogunbona, representing Ibrahim Owodunni, aka Primeboy, argued that new concerns had arisen that required further clarification from both Wunmi and the police to better understand the circumstances leading to Mohbad’s death.
The coroner has postponed the case until the witnesses are properly served and appear in court on the next adjourned date.
