A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has dismissed an application filed by Joseph Aloba, the father of late music star, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad to nullify the legal advice that led to the release of Naira Marley, Sam Larry, and others from allegations surrounding his son’s death.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Taiwo Olatokun ruled that the powers exercised by the Attorney General of Lagos State, through the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), were valid and could not be challenged.
“The exercise of powers by the Attorney General on whether to prosecute or not was validly exercised,” Justice Olatokun said, adding that the reliefs sought by Aloba could not be granted.
The suit, filed by Aloba on behalf of the Aloba family, listed the Attorney General of Lagos State and the DPP as respondents.
Aloba argued through his counsel, Wahab Shittu, SAN, that the legal advice issued by the DPP pre-empted the ongoing Coroner’s Inquest and denied the family a fair hearing.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the court’s decision, vowing to appeal.
“We strongly believe in the merit of our case and are ready to test the judgment on appeal,” Shittu said after the ruling.
Aloba had told the court that the legal advice freeing suspects including Naira Marley and Sam Larry undermined the Coroner’s inquest into the true cause of Mohbad’s death, which is still underway.
He further argued that key individuals implicated in the inquest had been prematurely cleared.
In response, the DPP, through a counter affidavit filed by Ayinde Ibrahim, a legal officer in the office, insisted that the suspects were not acquitted but merely discharged due to lack of evidence.
“There is no fact disclosed which links Naira Marley, Sam Larry, Prime Boy, or Opere Babatunde directly or remotely to the death of Mohbad,” Ibrahim stated, underscoring the conclusion that formed the basis of the DPP’s legal advice.
The DPP’s office also pointed out that unlike the Coroner or the applicant, they had access to the full criminal case file, which guided their legal advice.
They urged the court to dismiss the application “in the interest of justice.”
While the DPP’s counsel declined to comment after the verdict, the atmosphere in court was tense as supporters of the late Mohbad, including his father, left disappointed.
The case remains a sensitive and emotional one for many Nigerians, with the public continuing to demand justice for the late singer, who died under controversial circumstances in September 2023.