The Coroner’s Court in Ikorodu, Lagos State, has ordered substituted service on key witnesses in the ongoing inquest into the death of Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.
The court’s order was made after unsuccessful attempts to serve witness summons on several individuals with information connected to the singer’s death.
Among those summoned are prominent figures such as singer Azeez Fashola, known as Naira Marley, controversial socialite Samson Eletu (aka Sam Larry), Mohbad’s lawyer, Oluwasanmi Falade, and nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe, who reportedly treated the deceased.
In a statement released on Thursday, the legal team representing Mohbad’s father, Joseph Aloba, explained that Magistrate T. A. Sotobi had granted the request to serve witness summons the media.
This decision was made during the court’s August 16 sitting.
The statement, signed by legal representative Monisola Odumosu, reads: “Magistrate Sotobi… agreed with the legal team of 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 prompt attendance of the new witnesses.”
The legal team also sought the coroner’s approval to issue witness summons to additional individuals, including Mohbad’s driver, Fidelis Esanbor, and his sister-in-law, Karimot Ogunbayo, to testify on the circumstances surrounding the singer’s death.
They highlighted the difficulty in serving these witnesses through the court and stressed the importance of their testimony.
The coroner also granted a request to recall Mohbad’s wife, Wunmi, and the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), ASP Muhammad Yusuf, following a request by lawyer Akinpelu Ogunbona, who argued that new evidence had surfaced that required further clarification from both Wunmi and the police.
The court adjourned the case for the next hearing, instructing the compliance of the summons order and urging the witnesses to appear at the scheduled date.
New Telegraph had earlier reported that Mohbad passed away at the age of 27 on September 12, 2023, under controversial circumstances.