A Lagos High Court in Ikeja has thrown out a lawsuit filed by Joseph Aloba, father of the late singer Mohbad (Ilerioluwa Aloba), aimed at overturning legal advice that cleared Naira Marley, Sam Larry, and others of involvement in his son’s death.
On Wednesday, July 3, 2025, Justice Taiwo Olatokun ruled that the legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) was issued under the proper authority of the Attorney General and could not be challenged in court.
“The powers of the Attorney General (through the DPP) to decide whether or not to prosecute were lawfully exercised and cannot be questioned,” the judge stated.
Aloba’s legal team, led by Wahab Shittu, argued that the DPP acted prematurely by clearing the suspects before the ongoing coroner’s inquest was completed. They claimed the move denied both the family and the public a fair process, especially given the widespread calls for justice.
Despite the ruling, Aloba’s lawyers have vowed to appeal.
“My client is ready to test the judgment on appeal,” Shittu affirmed.
In October 2023, the Lagos State DPP had cleared Naira Marley (Azeez Fashola), Sam Larry (Samson Balogun), Primeboy, and Opere Babatunde, citing lack of direct evidence linking them to Mohbad’s death. However, they were noted as “discharged but not acquitted.”
Mohbad passed away on September 12, 2023, at age 27, shortly after parting ways with Marlian Music, his former record label. His death, surrounded by claims of abuse and foul play, sparked national protests and led to a state-backed coroner’s inquest.
At a hearing in May 2025, the DPP clarified that their advice was based solely on findings from police investigations, independent of the ongoing coroner’s inquiry.
