Nollywood actor and human rights campaigner, Yomi Fabiyi, plans to lead a peaceful rally to demand justice for the late Nigerian musician Ilerioluwa Aloba, alias MohBad.
Fabiyi, who announced this on his Instagram page, stated that the demonstration would take place on Monday, September 30, 2024, at the Lagos State House of Assembly.
According to him, the demonstration is calling on the state government to form a committee to probe the singer’s death.
He alleged that “those behind this heinous crime, those who cut Mohbad’s life short, are spending millions upon millions of naira to see that they cover up the case, create distractions, and bury the many blatant pieces of evidence.
“We are so sure the CCTV cameras inside and outside Mohbad’s house were working, and they store remotely someone and not via DVR. The builder of the houses of similar patterns and Royal Pine Estate, Off Orchid Road, Lekki security, and CDA have answers to where these facts are stored.”
He mentioned that the refusal of the police to retrieve the cameras is “very frustrating” and that “the masses do not want to put the law into our hands by going to ask for it; hence, we need the true representatives of the people of Lagos State to wade in and set up a committee to summon, visit, and bring the truth out.”
He urged citizens of the country to come out, be a part of the protest, and speak in one voice.
“This struggle needs you. Be orderly and civil when attending,” he concluded.
Mohbad died at the age of 27, on September 12, 2023, and the circumstances surrounding his death sparked debate on social media. Mohbad, a former record label signee of Marlian Music, founded by Naira Marley, quit the label in February 2022.
On September 18, 2023, the Lagos State Police Command formed a 13-man special investigation team to look into the singer’s death.
His death also resulted in the arrest of Naira Marley and controversial Lagos socialite Balogun Eletu, commonly known as Sam Larry, among others.
The singer’s remains were exhumed on September 21, 2023, for an autopsy to determine the cause of his death.
However, a pathologist testified before the Coroner’s Court on May 15, revealing that an autopsy couldn’t determine Mohbad’s cause of death due to the decomposition of his body.
Following the disclosure, Chronicle NG reported that the US-based lab refuted the claim by the Lagos State Government that the toxicology test was conducted at its facility.
However, the state commissioner for information, Gbenga Omotoso, in a document sent to our correspondent clarified that the lab confirmed receipt of the postmortem samples.
The document, which contained the lab’s response to an inquiry by the Attorney General of Lagos State, Lawal Pedro, read, “We are responding to your office’s request to confirm that NMS Labs tested postmortem samples identified as belonging to Ilerioluwa Aloba, also known as Mohbad.
“On March 1, 2024, NMS received postmortem samples from another Pennsylvania-based lab, ITSI Biosciences. ITSI Biosciences requested that NMS Labs conduct testing and report findings on samples they (ITSI Biosciences) identified as being from Ilerioluwa Aloba. NMS Labs completed toxicological testing and delivered a report of findings to the submitting agency, ITSI Biosciences, on April 9, 2024.”