Magistrate T. A. Sotobi authorized alternative service
methods for the witnesses after approving an application submitted by Mohbad’s
father, Joseph Aloba, to deliver witness summons to additional individuals
through a reputable national newspaper and social media platforms.
These individuals include Azeez Fashola (Naira Marley),
Samson Eletu (Sam Larry), Mohbad’s sister-in-law (Karimot Ogunbayo), Mohbad’s
legal counsel (Oluwasanmi Falade), the nurse who reportedly provided medical
attention to the deceased singer during the relevant period (Feyisayo
Ogedengbe), and the driver who transported him to the hospital (Fidelis
Esanbor).
In a conversation with our correspondent on Wednesday, the
head of the Aloba family’s legal team, Taiwo Odumosu, revealed that Mohbad’s
associate, Boluwatife Adeyemo (Darosha), was the sole key witness present at
the court session that day.
Odumosu indicated that the magistrate had contemplated
issuing subpoenas to the absent individuals if they failed to appear at the
subsequent court sitting.
He said, “Today’s sitting was to continue with the
examination of witnesses to know what happened to Mohbad and how he died. So,
among all the key witnesses invited and served through substituted means, only
Darosha was in court.
“Meanwhile, the magistrate said she would issue another
witness summons one last time chance. She said if they fail to appear on the
next adjourned date, they will be subpoenaed.”
It has come to our attention that the hearing has been
postponed until September 30th. In the meantime, the family of the
deceased singer has voiced their dissatisfaction and frustration with the
police investigation into his passing.
In a statement signed by Emmanuel Oroko of Hilceetee Partner
and obtained on Wednesday, Odumosu expressed his disapproval of the police’s
role in the investigation.
Specifically, Odumosu criticized the police for relying
solely on witness accounts to draw conclusions without conducting a
comprehensive investigation.
“On all fronts of the investigation, the police officers who
investigated the murder of the late singer exhibited overt complicity in the
narrative. The police relied on witnesses’ views to reach legal conclusions.
They failed to tell us what investigation they carried out and what they
discovered.
“Secondly, when the court granted us an order to conduct an
independent autopsy and toxicology test, the police refused to cooperate with
us. Based on our interaction with the forensic pathologists and their
requirements, we wrote the police to give access to the forensic experts to see
items taken from the scene of the crime including notes made by them.
“All these will help the forensic experts to have a better
view of what happened and also form a reasonable conclusion after considering
all facts and evidence before them,” he added.
Odumosu reported the absence of any communication from the
police regarding the pathologists’ visit to examine the relevant items for
their investigation.
Despite sending a follow-up reminder, the police have not
acknowledged the correspondence.
Concerning the alleged embalming performed by Darosha, Mr.
Odumosu clarified that no charges have been filed in court.
“We petitioned the Inspector General of Police and the
Police Service Commission to remove the officers in charge of the case because
of their apparent mishandling of the investigation into the death of Mohbad.
“The Police Service Commission is the civilian oversight
body established under the Nigerian Constitution 1999 for the Nigeria Police.
Its powers include appointment, promotion, discipline and dismissal of erring
police officers except the Inspector General of Police. We are yet to get a
response from them,” he said.
Odumosu, however, formally requested the PSC to investigate
the police officers who had the initial opportunity to uncover the source and
circumstances of Mohbad’s death but failed to fulfill their responsibilities.
Mohbad passed away at the age of 27 on September 12, 2023,
with the circumstances surrounding his death generating significant debate on
social media.
Previously signed to Marlian Music, a record label owned by
Naira Marley, Mohbad departed from the label in February 2022. The Lagos State
Police Command subsequently established a 13-member special investigation team
on September 18, 2023, to thoroughly examine the singer’s untimely demise.
Furthermore, the unfortunate event led to the apprehension
of Naira Marley and Lagos socialite Balogun Eletu, also known as Sam Larry,
among others.
In order to ascertain the precise cause of death, the singer’s
body was exhumed on September 21, 2023, for a post-mortem examination.