A Lagos High Court in Ikeja has dismissed a suit filed by Joseph Aloba, the father of the late Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, which sought to overturn the legal advice that cleared Naira Marley, Sam Larry, and others of complicity in his son’s death.
Delivering the ruling on Wednesday, July 3, 2025, Justice Taiwo Olatokun upheld the validity of the legal advice issued by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), stating that it was issued under the lawful powers of the Attorney General and therefore 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,” Justice Olatokun ruled.
Aloba, through his counsel Wahab Shittu, had argued that the DPP’s advice was premature, as it was issued before the completion of the coroner’s inquest into Mohbad’s death. He contended that the decision denied him and the public a fair hearing, especially amid widespread calls for justice in the controversial case.
Despite the court’s decision, Aloba’s legal team has expressed its intention to appeal. “My client is ready to test the judgment on appeal,” Wahab Shittu said.
In October 2023, the Lagos State DPP cleared Azeez Fashola (aka Naira Marley), Samson Balogun (Sam Larry), Primeboy, and Opere Babatunde, citing insufficient evidence directly linking them to Mohbad’s death. However, the advice noted that they were “discharged but not acquitted.”
Mohbad died on September 12, 2023, at age 27, shortly after parting ways with his former record label, Marlian Music. His death—surrounded by allegations of assault, intimidation, and foul play—triggered national outrage, protests, and calls for an independent investigation.
The Lagos State Government subsequently initiated a coroner’s inquest, during which several individuals were arrested and questioned. At a resumed hearing in May 2025, DPP representative Ayinde Ibrahim clarified that the legal advice was based solely on the police investigation file and not dependent on the outcome of the coroner’s inquest.
