Mohbad’s Father in Fresh Troubles over Lagos Monarch’s Petition

Joseph Aloba, father of the late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, known as Mohbad, was interrogated by officers from the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos, following a petition by Oba Saheed Elegushi.

The petition, which focuses on allegations of cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and criminal defamation, was detailed in a statement released on Tuesday by the head of Aloba’s legal team, Monisola Odumosu. According to Odumosu, the allegations stem from an interview Aloba gave recently.

The statement said, “Mr. Aloba was invited by the police and accompanied to the station by his legal representatives, Teri Wellington and Monisola Odumosu. The petition was filed by Oba Saheed Elegushi, who claimed that during an interview with a London-based blogger, Mr. Aloba defamed him.”

The statement added, “During the interview, Mr. Aloba allegedly claimed that his son was bullied and killed on the instruction of Oba Elegushi, executed by Sam Larry. However, Mr. Aloba clarified that his intention was not to defame or cyberbully Oba Elegushi but to seek justice for his late son.”

Odumosu also stated that Aloba admitted he had no proof to support the allegations against the monarch beyond a petition from his late son and phone conversations he had with him.

Oba Elegushi, present at the meeting, demanded a retraction of the statements. Odumosu emphasized that Aloba was neither arrested nor detained but granted bail without stress.

“Oba Elegushi only requested a retraction of the defamatory statements made by Mr. Aloba on social media. Mr. Aloba was never arrested or detained and is still grieving the death of his son. Any grieving parent might make statements in the heat of the moment that could seem unreasonable. We need to understand the context of his utterances.”

Mohbad, who died at 27 on September 12, 2023, left Marlian Music, owned by Naira Marley, in February 2022. His death has sparked significant controversy on social media. The Lagos State Police Command inaugurated a 13-man special investigation team on September 18, 2023, to probe the circumstances surrounding his death.

Naira Marley and Lagos socialite Balogun Eletu, also known as Sam Larry, were among those arrested in connection with the case. Mohbad’s body was exhumed on September 21, 2023, for an autopsy.

PUNCH Metro reported that a US-based lab refuted the Lagos State Government’s claim that the toxicology test was conducted at its facility. This revelation followed inquiries by our correspondent to ascertain the cause of the musician’s death.

Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, stated in February 2024 that the toxicology test was being conducted at NMS Labs in Pennsylvania, USA. However, a pathologist testified before the Coroner’s Court on May 15 that an autopsy could not determine Mohbad’s cause of death due to the body’s decomposition.