The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has approved a petition by the family of late Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, seeking a fresh investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Mohbad died on September 12, 2023, under circumstances that sparked widespread public concern and calls for a thorough investigation.
In a statement dated September 29, 2026, the family’s lawyer, Oladayo Ogungbe, confirmed that the police investigation was ongoing despite the recent dismissal of a separate lawsuit by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to PUNCH, Ogungbe said the family submitted its petition to the IGP on April 14, 2026, and the office officially received it on May 7.
The petition raised concerns about inconsistencies in the previous investigation and called for a comprehensive forensic examination.
Ogungbe said the IGP approved the petition and forwarded it to the Lagos State Police Command for immediate action. The matter was subsequently assigned to officers of the Special Enquiry Bureau for further investigation.
“The family’s representative has since been invited and has engaged with the new team of investigators assigned to the matter,” the statement reads.
“The family has continued to follow up with the investigators and remained engaged with the new investigative process.”
Mohbad: Family Separates Petition From Court Case
The family’s statement also clarified that the police investigation was separate from a lawsuit filed by the Break the Silence Foundation, which the Federal High Court in Abuja recently dismissed.
Ogungbe said the dismissal of the foundation’s case did not bring the investigation initiated through the family’s petition to an end.
“The Aloba Family therefore does not wish the public to conflate the dismissal of that suit with the separate investigative process already commenced pursuant to the Family’s petition to the Inspector-General of Police,” the statement added.
The family said it would continue to cooperate with investigators by providing relevant information, documents, witnesses and other materials that could assist the probe.
It also urged the police to “conduct the investigation with diligence, independence and professionalism”.
Previous Autopsy Could Not Determine Cause of Death
In May 2024, pathologists reported that the cause of Mohbad’s death could not be determined because his body had undergone advanced decomposition.
The family’s latest petition seeks a fresh investigation into the circumstances of his death, with particular emphasis on addressing concerns about the earlier investigation.
The outcome of the renewed police probe is expected to provide further clarity on the circumstances surrounding the singer’s death.
