A combined photo of Mohbad, Naira Marley and Sam Larry
By Shade Damiro
A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has ruled that the Lagos State government cannot be compelled to prosecute singer Naira Marley, and show promoter, Sam Larry, in connection with the controversial death of late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.
The ruling comes after the late singer’s father filed an application challenging the legal advice that cleared the duo of any criminal responsibility in Mohbad’s death.
Justice Olatokun, who delivered the judgment on Wednesday, held that the powers of the Lagos State Attorney General to initiate or decline prosecution are “absolute” and cannot be questioned.
Reacting to the decision, Wahab Shittu (SAN), lawyer to the Aloba family, told journalists that the family would head to the Court of Appeal.
He said their interest was not to indict anyone and that they were only pursuing justice for the late Mohbad.
Recall that in February, the Lagos State Magistrate Court sitting in Sabo, Yaba, exonerated Nigerian singer, Naira Marley, Sam Larry, and Owodunni Ibrahim, alias Primeboy, from allegations surrounding the death of Mohbad.
Magistrate Ejiro Kubenje, in delivering the ruling, cited the legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) in Lagos, which stated that the trio had no case to answer in connection with Mohbad’s demise.
Also cleared of any criminal liability was Mohbad’s former manager, Opere Babatunde.
However, the DPP confirmed that the auxiliary nurse who treated Mohbad before his death, Feyisayo Ogedengbe, and one of the late singer’s friends, Ayobami Sadiq, would face prosecution for reckless and negligent acts contrary to Section 251 (e) of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015. Their trial is expected to take place at the Magistrate Court.
It will be recalled that Mohbad died under controversial circumstances on September 12, 2023, with suspicions of foul play fueling public outrage and widespread calls for justice.
Mohbad, a former signee of Naira Marley’s Marlian Records, had in the past raised concerns about threats to his life.
Viral videos and social media testimonies surfaced following his death, implicating several individuals, including Naira Marley and Sam Larry, in alleged harassment and intimidation of the late singer.
Following his death, protests erupted across Nigeria, with fans and sympathisers demanding accountability.
The Lagos State Police Command later arrested Naira Marley, Sam Larry, Primeboy, and others in connection with the case, while autopsy results were awaited to clarify the cause of death.
However, with the new ruling, their names have now been cleared.
