Mohbad’s Father Gets Court’s Approval To Challenge DPP’s Clearance Of Naira Marley, Others

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The Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has granted Mr. Joseph Aloba, father of the late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, known as Mohbad, permission to initiate legal proceedings against the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) over the legal advice that cleared Naira Marley and others in connection with his son’s death.

Justice Taiwo Olatokun, who presided over the case on Friday, approved Aloba’s request to seek a judicial review of the DPP’s decision. The judge also directed that the motion and hearing notice, along with the court’s orders, be served on Lagos State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN.

In the motion ex parte filed by his legal representative, Wahab Shittu, SAN, Aloba urged the court to set aside the DPP’s advice that exonerated Azeez Fashola (known as Naira Marley), Samson Eletu (Sam Larry), Owodunni Ibrahim (Prime Boy), and Babatunde Pere. He argued that the advice was rushed and legally unsound.

Aloba claimed that the DPP’s recommendation, which led to the suspects being freed by a Yaba Magistrate Court, was premature and interfered with the ongoing coroner’s inquest into Mohbad’s death.

“Pursuant to the Applicant’s request to determine the circumstances leading to the death of his son, the inquest was referred to the Coroner’s Court with suit no. COR/IKD/10/2023 before Coroner Magistrate T. A. Shotobi and commenced sitting on September 29, 2023, and the proceeding is yet to be concluded,” the court filing stated.

He further added that despite the coroner’s inquest still being in progress, the suspects were discharged on February 26, 2025, based on the DPP’s legal advice.

“That while the proceeding is yet to be concluded by the Coroner’s Court, on the 26th February 2025, Magistrate Ejiro Kubenje sitting at Yaba Magistrate Court acting on the legal advice of the Respondents discharged and acquitted the four prime suspects, AbdulAzeez Fashola aka Naira Marley, Samason Balogun Eletu aka Sam Larry and Owoduni Ibrahim aka Prime Boy, and Opere Babatunde in the controversial death of late Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba AKA Mohbad,” the document read.

Aloba also alleged that some key individuals identified during the inquest were released before they could provide any statements regarding their possible involvement in the case.

He accused the police and the DPP of taking action without notifying the coroner, thereby undermining the integrity of the investigation.

“That the police and the respondents, through their senior counsel participated in the coroner’s proceedings. The State CID, Panti, forwarded the case containing their investigation to the respondents without informing the Coroner’s Court, and while both offices, particularly the respondents, were aware of the coroner’s inquest proceeded to issue legal advice which prompted the magistrate court to discharge and acquit the prime suspects in the controversial death of late Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, also known as Mohbad,” the document added.

The case has been scheduled for hearing on June 17.

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