Court Dismisses Mohbad’s Father’s Bid to Challenge DPP’s Clearance of Naira Marley, Sam Larry Others

 

Court Dismisses Mohbad’s Father’s Bid to Challenge DPP’s Clearance of Naira Marley, Sam Larry Others

A Lagos High Court in Ikeja has dismissed a suit filed by Joseph Aloba, father of late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba (aka Mohbad), challenging the legal advice that cleared Naira Marley, Sam Larry, and others of involvement in his son’s d+ath.

Justice Taiwo Olatokun ruled on Wednesday that the advice issued by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), acting on the powers of the Attorney General, was valid and could not be overturned.

“The powers of the Attorney General (through the DPP) to decide whether or not to prosecute were lawfully exercised and cannot be questioned,” Justice Olatokun held.

Aloba, through his lawyer Wahab Shittu, had argued that the legal advice was premature since the coroner’s inquest into Mohbad’s death was still ongoing. He claimed the decision denied both him and the public a fair hearing.

Reacting to the judgment, Shittu said they plan to appeal the ruling: “My client is ready to test the judgment on appeal.”

In October 2023, the DPP cleared Azeez Fashola (Naira Marley), Samson Balogun (Sam Larry), Primeboy, and Opere Babatunde, citing a lack of evidence directly linking them to Mohbad’s d+ath. The legal advice clarified that they were discharged but not acquitted.

Mohbad d+ed under controversial circumstances on September 12, 2023, just months after a public fallout with his former record label, Marlian Music, owned by Naira Marley. His sudden d+ath at age 27 triggered national outrage, with widespread accusations of b¥llying and ab¥se by his former associates.

The Lagos State Government ordered a coroner’s inquest, while several suspects were arrested.

At the resumed hearing in May, the DPP’s representative, Ayinde Ibrahim, stated that the advice was based strictly on the criminal case file and not dependent on the coroner’s inquest, which had no bearing on the decision.