Mohbad: Naira Marley, Sam Larry risk subpoena

A Coroner’s Court sitting in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State has threatened to subpoena key witnesses for failing to appear at the ongoing inquest into the death of singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad.

Magistrate T. A. Sotobi had ordered substituted services for the witnesses after granting an application by Mohbad’s father, Joseph Aloba, to serve a witness summons on additional witnesses through a reputable national newspaper and social media.

These include Azeez Fashola aka Naira Marley; Samson Eletu aka Sam Larry; Mohbad’s sister-in-law, Karimot Ogunbayo; Mohbad’s lawyer, Oluwasanmi Falade, the nurse who was said to have treated the deceased singer during the period, Feyisayo Ogedengbe, and the driver who drove him to the hospital, Fidelis Esanbor.

Speaking to our correspondent on Wednesday, the head of the Aloba family’s legal team, Taiwo Odumosu, said Mohbad’s ally, Boluwatife Adeyemo aka Darosha, was the only key witness present at the court sitting on Wednesday.

Odumosu said the magistrate had considered issuing a subpoena on them if they did not appear at the next court sitting.

He said, “Today’s sitting was to continue with the examination of witnesses to know what happened to Mohbad and how he died. So, among all the key witnesses invited and served through substituted means, only Darosha was in court.

“Meanwhile, the magistrate said she would issue another witness summons one last time chance. She said if they fail to appear on the next adjourned date, they will be subpoenaed.”

Thethe hearing was adjourned till September 30.

Meanwhile, the family of the late singer has expressed disappointment and frustration with the police investigation into his death.

Odumosu, in a statement signed by Emmanuel Oroko of Hilceetee Partner, obtained by PUNCH Metro on Wednesday, frowned on the police’s role in the investigation.

According to him, Odumosu criticised the police for relying on witnesses’ views to reach conclusions without conducting a thorough investigation.

“On all fronts of the investigation, the police officers who investigated the murder of the late singer exhibited overt complicity in the narrative. The police relied on witnesses’ views to reach legal conclusions. They failed to tell us what investigation they carried out and what they discovered.

“Secondly, when the court granted us an order to conduct an independent autopsy and toxicology test, the police refused to cooperate with us. Based on our interaction with the forensic pathologists and their requirements, we wrote the police to give access to the forensic experts to see items taken from the scene of the crime including notes made by them.

“All these will help the forensic experts to have a better view of what happened and also form a reasonable conclusion after considering all facts and evidence before them,” he added.

Odumosu said there was no message from the police about when the pathologists should visit them to view the items to aid their investigations.

He explained that despite writing a reminder to them, the police didn’t acknowledge the letters.

On the embalmment allegedly carried out by Darosha, Odumosu stated that no one has been charged in court.

“We petitioned the Inspector General of Police and the Police Service Commission to remove the officers in charge of the case because of their apparent mishandling of the investigation into the death of Mohbad.

“The Police Service Commission is the civilian oversight body established under the Nigerian Constitution 1999 for the Nigeria Police. Its powers include appointment, promotion, discipline and dismissal of erring police officers except the Inspector General of Police. We are yet to get a response from them,” he said.

Odumosu however appealed to the PSC to investigate the police officers who had the first chance to discover the source and circumstances of the death of Mohbad but failed to do the needful.

Mohbad died at the age of 27, on September 12, 2023, with circumstances surrounding his death sparking controversies on social media.

Being a former record label signee of Marlian Music owned by Naira Marley, Mohbad left the label in February 2022. The Lagos State Police Command had on September 18, 2023, inaugurated a 13-man special investigation team to probe the singer’s death.

His death also led to the arrest of Naira Marley and Lagos socialite, Balogun Eletu, also known as Sam Larry, amongst others.

The singer’s body was on September 21, 2023, exhumed for autopsy to unravel the cause of his death.

Nigerian-Born Vanuatu Trade Commissioner to Canada, Naomi Olapeju Sigismund to Celebrate 50th Birthday with Week-long Activities

Nigerian-born businesswoman, diplomat, and Republic of Vanuatu’s Trade Commissioner to Ontario, Canada, Her Excellency Ms. Naomi Olapeju Sigismund Oke, has announced an exciting lineup of week-long pre-birthday activities to celebrate her golden jubilee in Nigeria.

The festivities will kick off on Tuesday, October 1, with a feeding programme for the less privileged on the streets of Lagos, culminating in a grand finale on Saturday, October 5, at the Ojaja Arena in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

This was contained in a statement released in Lagos on Tuesday, signed by her Media Consultant, Mr. Israel Bolaji.

According to the statement, the philanthropist and advocate for fashion and culture will begin her celebration with the street feeding programme on Tuesday, followed by a medical outreach in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Wednesday at the Palace of Alake, a paramount monarch.

On Thursday, she will host another medical outreach aimed at combating cancer and addressing eye health issues, dubbed the “Cancel Cancer/Jigi Abebi Olapeju” programme, at the Palace of His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

On Friday, October 4, the celebrant—an embodiment of beauty, allure, and class—will launch her book titled “PJ Simply” and host the Africa-Canada Investment & Expo Summit (AFRICIES) outreach. These activities will take place at the Palace of the Ooni and the Ife Grand Resort, adding vibrancy to the week-long celebrations.

The main event will occur on Saturday, October 5—her birthday—where she will host dignitaries and eminent personalities, including traditional rulers, government officials, industry leaders, celebrities, and icons from the entertainment, fashion, and culture sectors. The lavish ceremony promises luxury, glamour, and an unforgettable atmosphere.

Renowned Nigerian music maestro Sir Shina Peters will lead a lineup of top musicians to provide entertainment, ensuring that the celebrant and her guests are thoroughly delighted. The crème de la crème of society is expected to attend this momentous occasion.

Naomi Olapeju is also the founder of the Hope For Sure Foundation, Convener of the Glam African Fashion Festival (GAFF), and Project Director of African Canada Investment, which organises AFRICIES—a prestigious business gathering that connects African businesses with Canadian investors, fostering robust trade relations and providing a valuable platform for networking and investment opportunities.

Renowned for her impactful philanthropic efforts, Olapeju has made significant contributions to the lives of the less privileged in critical areas such as education, health, trade, and skills acquisition through her foundation. She is deeply committed to enhancing trade between Vanuatu and Canadian enterprises and by extension African businesses through various enabling platforms, including AFRICIES and others.

*‘’Primate Ayodele Never Said Seyi Makinde Would Become President’’ – Media Aide Clarifies

Following multiple reports on the internet that renowned prophet, Primate Elijah Ayodele prophesied that the governor of Oyo state, Engineer Seyi Makinde would become Nigeria’s president, Osho Oluwatosin, the media aide to the prophet has dismissed the reports as false.

Osho Oluwatosin categorically stated that there was never a time Primate Ayodele mentioned that Seyi Makinde would become Nigeria’s president either ahead of the 2027 election or after.

He stated that Primate Ayodele only gave advice to Governor Seyi Makinde to begin consultation for a higher ground in his political career but never mentioned presidency as the higher ground he meant.

Oluwatosin further noted that Primate Ayodele didn’t specify exactly what higher position he was talking about with his prophecy but he simply advised the governor to start preparing for a next chapter politically in order to remain relevant after his tenure as governor.

Continuing, Oluwatosin called on journalists and media practitioners to always ensure they practice within the provisions of the law and ethics that guides the profession rather than involving in fake news and sensationalism for the sake of traffic.

Read statement below:

It has been brought to our attention that some highly respected news organizations are sharing reports that Primate Ayodele revealed in a prophecy that Governor Seyi Makinde will become the President of Nigeria.

This is not only disturbing but embarrassing and disappointing that some media organizations that should uphold the ethics of the journalism profession are getting themselves involved in tarnishing the image of the profession.

Primate Ayodele’s statement was an advice to Seyi Makinde regarding the next chapter of his political career and he called on him to begin 21 days consultation to reach a higher ground in his career.

In the video which was quoted in these reports, Primate Ayodele clearly said that Seyi Makinde is going to a higher ground but he needs to consult adequately. He warned that if he missed the chance, he would be sent completely packing politically.

These were his words:

‘’Seyi Makinde, open your eyes, do 21 days consultation now, there is a higher ground you are going, you are going to higher ground in your party, don’t leave your party, start a wider consultation, you may get it and you may not get it. There is a next chapter for you, if only you follow the instructions. Right from tomorrow Monday which is 10th of September, start your consultation if you want to be somebody politically, if you miss this chance, this can send you completely packing politically’’

I have watched the video multiple times, at different speeds, to see where Primate Ayodele mentioned anything like Presidency but I didn’t find it, where did Oyoaffairs and its cohorts get their fake quotes from? I wonder.

In fact, speaking about a higher ground for Seyi Makinde who is presently a governor, he could become a senator, house of representatives member, his party national chairman, other political positions, must it be Presidency? It’s painful that this is being attributed to Primate Ayodele, how can anyone think of lying against a man of God?

This is the same way some of these news outlets reported that Primate Ayodele said Atiku would be Nigeria’s next president in 2023, they also reported in 2019 that the prophet said Bukola Saraki would be the next president of Nigeria, I wonder why they get their reports from and what their motives are for these shameful acts.

Anyways, whatever their motives may be, we don’t appreciate them and it will be better that they resist from lying against Primate Ayodele. If they must report his activities, they should do so with all decency but if they can’t do without writing fake stories about him, they should kindly desist.

We also want to take this opportunity to appreciate news outlets that report Primate Ayodele’s stories accurately and within the provisions of the law and ethics that guide the journalism profession. We appreciate their support at all times.