Court fixes date for suit seeking new probe into Mohbad death

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday fixed May 28 for hearing in a suit seeking to compel the Nigeria Police Force to reopen an investigation into the death of late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad. Justice James Omotosho fixed the date after the applicant informed the court that all the respondents had been served with the processes in the suit. The respondents in the matter are the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command. The suit was instituted by a non-governmental organisation, the Registered Trustees of Break the Silence Foundation.

The group is seeking an order of mandamus compelling the police authorities to conduct what it described as a thorough, diligent and impartial reinvestigation into the circumstances surrounding the singer’s death in September 2023. At the resumed proceedings on Monday, counsel for the applicant, Tunde Falola, told the court that all the respondents in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/636/2026 had been duly served.

Following the submission, Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter till May 28 for hearing. The court had earlier granted the organisation leave to apply for an order compelling the police to perform their statutory duties under Section 4 of the Police Act 2020.

Part of the relief sought by the applicant is “an Order of Mandamus compelling the respondents to perform their statutory duties as provided for under Section 4 of the Police Act 2020, by inviting all persons who were last seen with the deceased—particularly his wife, one Omowumi Cynthia Aloba; close associates; and the deceased’s father, one Joseph Aloba of Ikorodu area, Lagos—who hurriedly buried the deceased without police clearance first obtained.

” The applicant further prayed the court to compel the police to arrest and prosecute any person found directly or indirectly responsible for the singer’s death where evidence establishes culpability. In an earlier ruling delivered on April 15, Justice Omotosho granted the applicant leave to commence the action, and also approved substituted service on the Lagos State Commissioner of Police.

The judge directed that the court processes be served by dropping copies at the Legal Department of the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Area 11, Garki, Abuja. Mohbad’s death in September 2023 triggered nationwide outrage and protests, with many Nigerians alleging foul play.

The incident also gave rise to the #Justice4Mohbad campaign within and outside the country, amid public criticism over the handling of the investigation by security agencies. Nearly three years after the singer’s death, the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unresolved.