Workers’ strike stalls Mobhad’s coroner inquest

The on-going two-day-old workers’ strike has stalled the coroner's inquest into the death of popular rapper, singer, and songwriter Ilerioluwa Aloba (Mohbad).

Born in Lagos on Jan. 3, 1996, Mohbad died in mysterious circumstances on Sept. 12, 2023, and was buried the following day.

His death sparked nationwide protests, forcing the Lagos State government to order the exhumation of the body for a coroner’s inquest.

Supreme News reports that the last sitting of the coroner was adjourned to Wednesday, Nov. 15, to determine the cause of death of the 27-year-old singer.

Security officials at the court, however, refused magistrates and judiciary staff entry into the building to continue the inquest on Wednesday.

A court official who requested anonymity told newsmen that the courtroom was not open as there was full compliance with the strike called by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress.

The two unions called the nationwide strike to protest against the assault of the NLC president, Mr. Joe Ajaero, by hoodlums in Owerri earlier in the month.

Many litigants and court customers who spoke with newsmen lamented the effect of the strike on judicial processes.

Mohbad was said to have attended a concert in Ikorodu, Lagos State, on Sept. 10, where he sustained injuries in a fracas.

Addressing a news conference in Ikeja on Oct. 5 on preliminary findings on Mohbad’s death, Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr. Idowu Owohunwa, named an auxiliary nurse, Feyisayo Ogedemgbe, as the prime suspect.

Ogedemgbe was reported to have injected the deceased three times in his home on Sept. 12 before he started vomiting and developing goose bumps.

Owohunwa said 26 people had been interviewed concerning Mohbad’s death.

Among those questioned were the late singer’s father, mother, sisters, brother, friends, wife, and manager.

According to Owohunwa, Mohbad was taken to the hospital lifeless and was declared dead on Sept. 12 by the attending physicians.

He said the auxiliary nurse was called to inject the singer at his home by Mohbad’s friend, Ayobami Isiaka, aka “Spending’’.

Ogedemgbe gave the singer three injections that were believed to have resulted in a series of events that led to his death.

The police also invited a childhood friend of Mohbad, Ibrahim Owodunni (Primeboy), for questioning.

The police commissioner revealed that Primeboy and Mohbad went to the concert together on Sept. 10, and they engaged in violent altercations after the show.

The ensuing fight from the altercation caused harm to the late singer.

“The management of the injury subsequently resulted in his death,” Owohunwa said.

Police also detained “Naira Marley’’ and one Samson Balogun (Sam Larry) over their roles in the singer’s death, as they were reported to have been bullying the rapper.

Mohbad was formerly signed to Naira Marley’s Marlian Records but left the label in 2022.

Owohunwa explained that Abdul-Aziz Fashola (Naira Marley) was detained because of accusations made against him.