Ikeja, Nigeria - The Lagos State High Court will deliver its judgment on July 2, 2025, in a case filed by Mr. Joseph Aloba — father of the late Nigerian singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad — challenging the legal decision that freed music figures Naira Marley and Sam Larry from allegations tied to his son’s controversial death.

Presiding Judge Justice Taiwo Olatokun fixed the date after hearing final arguments from both sides. Mr. Aloba, represented by prominent Senior Advocate Wahab Shittu, is contesting the Director of Public Prosecutions' (DPP) legal advice which dismissed potential criminal culpability of several high-profile individuals named in the ongoing coroner’s inquest into Mohbad’s death.

Mr. Aloba's legal team argues that the DPP's advice — which led to the discharge of Abdulazeez Fashola (aka Naira Marley), Samson Balogun Eletu (aka Sam Larry), and others — was premature, bypassing due process and undermining the yet-to-be-concluded coroner’s inquiry into the 27-year-old singer’s death.

The application alleges that vital suspects who were mentioned during the coroner’s inquest were freed without the conclusion of the investigation — a move the applicant claims violates the principles of fair hearing and justice.

Shittu maintained that the state jumped the gun by issuing a legal clearance while the coroner was still determining the cause and circumstances of Mohbad’s sudden and suspicious death.

In a counter affidavit dated June 24, filed by the office of the DPP, legal officer Ayinde Ibrahim argued that contrary to public assumptions, the suspects were not acquitted but merely discharged due to the absence of direct or indirect evidence linking them to the singer’s death.

The state insists that the legal decision was based solely on the duplicate case file submitted by police investigators, which it claims contained no credible evidence against the suspects. The DPP further argues that it is under no obligation to wait for the coroner’s verdict before performing its constitutional duty to review and issue legal advice on criminal files.

“The DPP’s role is distinct from the Coroner’s,” the state said, maintaining that while the coroner seeks to establish the who, what, where, and how of a death, the DPP is tasked with determining if a criminal offence can be prosecuted based on evidence.

The DPP further claimed that Mr. Aloba and witnesses who testified at the inquest did not present new or verifiable facts beyond what was already in the police file. As such, the legal advice remained unchanged — a discharge for all the accused parties.

They also questioned Mr. Aloba’s independent efforts, stating that he did not conduct any private investigation nor provide substantiated proof linking the suspects to Mohbad’s demise.

In response to allegations of procedural bias, the state claimed that the police and DPP acted within their statutory boundaries and were never instructed by the court or coroner to delay issuing legal advice.

Despite the state’s legal positioning, the case has reignited public outrage and calls for transparency in Nigeria’s justice system. Mohbad’s death in September 2023 triggered nationwide protests, as fans and rights activists accused authorities of shielding powerful figures from accountability.

The involvement of entertainment celebrities with alleged histories of intimidation and violence has further stoked suspicion. While the DPP stands firm that no prosecutable evidence exists, critics argue that deeper, politically shielded networks are obstructing justice.

With the ruling set for July 2, the court is now tasked with balancing the technical boundaries of law against the public’s demand for truth in one of Nigeria’s most emotionally charged celebrity cases.

WafricNews will continue to follow developments and provide updates on this case that lies at the crossroads of justice, power, and public trust.


By WafricNews Desk.