A Coroner’s Court in Ikorodu, Lagos State, has issued an order for substituted service on key witnesses in the ongoing inquest into the death of singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad.
According to Punch, the witnesses include Azeez Fashola aka Naira Marley; Samson Eletu aka Sam Larry; Mohbad’s sister-in-law, Karimot Ogunbayo; Boluwatife Adeyemo aka Darosha; and Mohbad’s lawyer, Oluwasanmi Falade. The nurse who reportedly treated the deceased, Feyisayo Ogedengbe, and the driver who transported him to the hospital, Fidelis Esanbor, are also on the list.
Magistrate T.A. Sotobi granted an application by Mohbad’s father, Joseph Aloba, allowing for the service of witness summons on additional witnesses through a reputable national newspaper and social media.
The Aloba family’s legal team, in a statement signed by Monisola Odumosu, noted that the order was granted during the court’s sitting on August 16. The legal team also requested that the coroner’s court issue Witness Summons to interested persons to provide evidence on the connection and circumstances surrounding Mohbad’s death.
The statement from the legal team reads: “Magistrate Sotobi, sitting at the Ikorodu Magistrate Court on Friday, August 16, 2024, agreed with the legal team representing Mohbad’s father, Joseph Aloba, that the new witnesses should be served via substituted means in a reputable national newspaper and social media to ensure their prompt attendance.”
The application, argued by the legal team led by Mr. Wahab Shittu SAN and including Emmanuel Oroko Esq., Miss Monisola Odumosu, Emmanuel Sadoh, Dr. A.R. Ahmed, Oluyemi Osalusi Esq., Wole Ariyibi, and Sadiq Kamo, sought an order for Witness Summons for individuals connected to Mohbad’s death on September 12, 2023. The application specifically requested summonses for Nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe, Boluwatife Adeyemo (aka Darosha), Karimot Titilayo Ogunbayo, Barr. Oluwasanmi Falade (Mohbad’s lawyer), Fidelis Esanbor (driver), Azeez Fashola (aka Naira Marley), and Balogun Samson Eletu. The statement also asked the court to permit the witness summons to be served through publication in a reputable national newspaper as the only viable means.
The legal team reported unsuccessful attempts to serve these witnesses through the court.
Additionally, the coroner’s court granted an application to recall Mohbad’s wife, Wunmi, and the investigating police officer, ASP Muhammad Yusuf. Akinpelu Ogunbona, representing Ibrahim Owodunni aka Primeboy, argued that there were new issues that both Wunmi and the police needed to clarify to provide a complete picture of the circumstances surrounding the singer’s death. The request was made to address ambiguous statements about an alleged fight in the singer’s home.
The court adjourned to allow for the compliance with the orders and for the witnesses to appear on the next adjourned date.
Mohbad died under controversial circumstances at the age of 27 on September 12, 2023.
