HALIMAH OLAMIDE takes on the one year after of the death of singer, Ileri Oluwa Oladimeji Aloba, popularly called Mohbad, wading through the litany of controversies, the alleged coverups and efforts by concerned Nigerians to get to the root of what killed the singer
Twelve good months after the mysterious death of music artiste, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, popularly called Mohbad, fans and other Nigerians believe there is still more that meets the eyes.
With many controversies, suspects, opinions, twists and turns, the last one year brings forth a confounding series of events that have unfolded since September 12th, 2023 when news of his death gripped the country.
NPO Reports that Mohbad died on the 12th of September, aged 27. He was survived by his wife, Wunmi and his son, Liam.
There have been speculations as to the cause of his death with possibilities of ear infection, injection overdose, strangulation, poisoning and many others colouring the supposed investigations.
Did Mohbad die at home? Was he taken to the hospital when needed or a weak and totally incapacitated singer kept at home till it was too late for any medical rescue?
The hospital he was taken to had told the whole world that the musician did not make it to its facility alive.
In its “Brought-in-Dead” statement issued in the wake of the hoopla over the death, the hospital had said “We consider it pertinent to put on record that at about 04:30 pm on the 12th of September 2023, the lifeless body of Mr. Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba (AKA Mohbad) was brought to our medical facility and our medical team immediately sprang into action and after assessment, it was discovered that there was no sign of life, no central or peripheral pulse, no heartbeat, no recordable vital signs, and his pupils were fixed and dilated.
“On attempting CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), rigor mortis (stiffening of some parts of the body in relation to death) was observed and the persons who brought him to our facility were informed that it was a case of BID (Brought in dead). Upon inquiry about the circumstances leading to the emergency, our team was informed that the deceased was being treated at home by a nurse and that she administered injections to him.”
That was the climax of a litany of happenings involving a number of people in his circle prior his death.
On the 5th of October 2022, Mohbad had sent out a save-my-soul statement on social media saying that street artiste, Azeez Fashola popularly called Naira Marley, should be held responsible if anything happened to him.
The singer shared some disturbing videos on his social media page claiming he was attacked by members of the Marlian music.
Mohbad was a key member of the Marlian Music, owned by Naira Marley.
Expectedly, Naira Marley had dismissed Mohbad’s claim, alleging that he was “high” when he made the accusations.
On the 6th October 2022, Mohbad provided details to his claim, saying “Naira Marley asked his boys to beat me for demanding a new manager.”
On the 25th of October, 2022, MohBad terminated his contract with Marlian Music making the decision public via a document signed by his lawyer O.M Falade and issued to Marlian Music.
In the document issued to Marlian Music, Mohbad claimed he was physically and violently attacked and had received life threats from Naira Marley.
The document also stated that Marlian Music had not fulfilled the terms of the contract signed in 2019, and had also failed to pay all royalties due to MohBad.
Amidst the hoopla triggered by the sudden death, the Lagos State Police Command had come up with an interim report on what the command believed caused the singer’s death.
According to the police interim report, the management of an injury inflicted on late Mohbad during a fight with his childhood friend, Prime Boy, resulted in his death.
The report named an Auxiliary Nurse, Miss Fisayo Ogedengbe as the Prime suspect in Mohbad’s death after she admitted during interrogation that the injection she gave him triggered a reaction that led to his eventual death.
The auxiliary nurse admitted to have administered doses of Tetanus Toxoid, Paracetamol (IV) and Ceftriaxone injection (IV) on Mohbad, at his residence, on September 12, 2023, the day he died.
Mohbad was last seen on the 10th of September, 2023, at the D’General Bitters Ikorodu show, where he performed with Zlatan alongside other artistes.
His passing sparked nationwide protest with hashtag as many of his fans and other Nigerians moved from social media trends to the streets to demand justice using the #Justice4MohBad hashtag to organize a candlelight procession in Lagos which held on 21 September 2023.
Other states like Oyo, Kwara, Abia, Osun and others also joined in the protests, with some others in the Diaspora calling for justice.
At the time of his death, several videos of Mohbad being beaten up and bullied by some Marlian music members flooded the social media.
However, following his death, Naira Marley, Zinoleesky, controversial Lagos socialite, Balogun Eletu, popularly known as Sam Larry, among others were seen as prime suspects to his mysterious passing, particularly since Mohbad had earlier put out a call for help stating those to be held responsible in case of anything happening to him.
Of course, the development had led to the popularity rating of the then rising Naira Marley coming down with him and members of his music empure now battling for relevance with the Nigerian music industry. There are enough indications that Nigerians have boycotted all Marlian Music playlists which include Naira Marley and Zinoleesky.
HASTY BURIAL AND THE SUSPICIONS
Another point of outrage for many Nigerians was when Mohbad was buried less than 24 hours after his death in his hometown in Ikorodu, on the 13th of September, 2023.
This however raised some suspicions to Nigerians, as an autopsy was yet to be conducted to ascertain the cause of his death.
Explaining the rationale behind such hasty burial, Mohbad’s father had argued that “In Yoruba land, his corpse is not the kind to be kept when both of his parents are still alive.”
But the grieving and angry public and of course the Law, would not want any of such argument, hence the decision by the police to exhume his remains on the 21st of September, 2023, under the watchful eyes of representatives of the Lagos State Police Command.
One of the fallouts of the development was the claim by many to have seen fresh blood inside the grave from where he was exhumed suggesting that the singer might still have been alive at the time he was pronounced dead.
Amidst many other insinuations, some social media users had claimed that Mohbad’s son, Liam bears a striking resemblance with Sam Larry, therefore demanding his wife to conduct a DNA test to certify the paternity of the son.
Meanwhile, on the 15th of May, the result of the toxicology test that was carried out on the late artiste revealed that the cause of death cannot be ascertained
According to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wahab Shittu , at the time the test was carried out, the body of the singer had already decomposed.
In further pursuit for justice, Nollywood actor and filmmaker, Yomi Fabiyi reopened the case for investigation on the 3rd of September, 2024, by initiating a private investigation into the circumstances surrounding the musician’s death.
Fabiyi posted a video documenting his visit to CURAMED Hospital where he lauded the hospital for its transparency and adherence to proper procedure.
“The hospital did everything right and showed overwhelming proof. Kudos to the staff.”
He further explained his role in the investigation, noting that as a human rights activist, it is crucial to conduct thorough and unbiased inquiries.
“Not every detail of our investigation will be made public for the safety and right of privacy of all involved. We would rather share with appropriate quarters. But trust me, we will do our best to play our part for a better and safer society,” Fabiyi stated.
In the same vein, social media critic, Verydarkman, shared proof about Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo running the Instagram account of Mohbad’s widow, Wunmi, in a video circulating on social media.
The critic, who shared how he contacted the service of a hacker to get the evidence, claimed Iyabo Ojo was running her account and Wunmi’s Instagram page via the same phone.
This would later be corroborated by social media personality, Kemi Olunloyo.
VDM insisted the actress knew what happened to the late Mohbad, as he also shared an old video of the actress speaking about his death.
However, the series of events have kept Mohbad’s death on the spotlight, with ongoing legal and forensic processes trying to bring clearer picture to the whole sad saga. But for now and a year after, the controversies continue while Mohbad’s fans say the artiste lives on.