Police quiz MohBad’s father over alleged defamation
By Innocent Raphael
Joseph Aloba, the father of late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, also known as Mohbad, was questioned on Monday by officers of the Force Criminal Investigation Department at Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos, over a petition by Oba Saheed Elegushi.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by Monisola Odumosu, head of the Aloba legal team, the petition involves allegations of cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and criminal defamation. Odumosu noted that these allegations stem from a recent interview Joseph Aloba gave.
The statement revealed, “Mr. Aloba was invited to the police station, accompanied by legal representatives Teri Wellington and Monisola Odumosu. Oba Saheed Elegushi’s petition alleges that during an interview with a London-based blogger, Mr. Aloba defamed him. Allegedly, Mr. Aloba claimed that his son was bullied and killed on the instruction of Oba Elegushi, with Sam Larry being the executor.”
Aloba clarified in the statement that his intent was not to defame or cyberbully the monarch but to seek justice for his deceased son. He admitted lacking concrete evidence to support the allegations apart from a petition written by his late son and phone conversations with him.
Odumosu also mentioned that Oba Elegushi, present at the meeting, requested a retraction of the statements. Aloba was not arrested or detained but was granted bail without complications. The legal team stressed that Aloba is still mourning his son and may have made emotionally charged statements.
Mohbad passed away at 27 on September 12, 2023, under controversial circumstances. Formerly signed with Marlian Music, owned by Naira Marley, Mohbad left the label in February 2022. Following his death, the Lagos State Police set up a 13-man team to investigate.
His death led to the arrests of Naira Marley and socialite Balogun Eletu, known as Sam Larry. Mohbad’s body was exhumed on September 21, 2023, for an autopsy, which failed to determine the cause due to decomposition.
Discrepancies arose over the toxicology test, with the US-based NMS Labs refuting claims that the test was conducted at their facility.
The case continues to unfold as authorities and the family seek answers.
