The family of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has faulted a petition said to have been filed by the deceased’s widow, Omowunmi, against Ibrahim Owodunni, also known as Primeboy.
Primeboy, a close ally of Mohbad, was interrogated during a scheduled visit to the State Criminal Investigation Department on Tuesday, alongside Ayobami Fisayo, aka Spending.
The duo had been instructed to visit the police facility every week since the commencement of the investigation into the circumstances leading to Mohbad’s death.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, however, confirmed that the Afro singer was delayed and questioned during Tuesday’s visit over alleged defamation of character and other allegations cited in a petition filed by Wunmi.
Although the singer was released on Tuesday night, he returned to the SCID on Wednesday as police continued their probe of the allegations.
However, the family, in a statement signed by the head of its legal team, Monisola Odumosu, on Wednesday, alleged that the petition bordered on scaring potential witnesses in the unfolding investigative enquiry at the Coroner’s Court.
Mohbad’s family also noted that Primeboy was released from the SCID following the intervention of its legal team.
The statement read, “It has come to our notice that Wunmi Cynthia Aloba has petitioned the police alleging that Primeboy and four other persons were cyber-bullying and threats to her life and her son Liam Aloba, amongst other allegations.
“As a result, the police detained Primeboy at their Panti office in Lagos and released him on Tuesday evening at about 8.00 pm local time. The legal team was led by Emmanuel Oroko Esq. Primeboy and Spending were at Panti Police Station earlier in the morning of (12/03/2024) to fulfil part of the conditions of their administrative bail which is that they must report to the homicide section of Panti police station every week.
“We are of the strong opinion that the police can only help to get justice in the matter relating to who killed Ilerioluwa Aloba (Mohbad) by vetting spurious petitions that border on scaring potential witnesses in the unfolding investigative enquiry at the Coroner’s Court. The police have shown professionalism and integrity by releasing Primeboy on bail and allowing our legal team access to the petition. Also, Primeboy was told to come back on Wednesday.”
Odumosu explained further that it was not easy for the duo since they were listed as witnesses for the inquest.
“May we mention that since we listed Spending and Primeboy as witnesses for the inquest at the Coroner Court, it has not been easy for the duo. We have evidence of a sporadic call from a person sympathetic to Wunmi Aloba, and we queried why the person had to call and truncate the call when Primeboy had not picked up the call. Immediately the person switched off his phone and has not called back since then. Barely a week after, Primeboy has been petitioned against and detained.
“The petitions against the duo of Spending and Primeboy will not scare them away as witnesses at the next sitting of the Coroner Court. We shall do all within the law not just to protect them but also protect their mental health,” the statement added.
During its probe, the police declared Primeboy wanted on October 4, 2023, after which he turned himself in two days later.
Meanwhile, Mohbad’s father, Joseph Aloba, had filed an application in January at the coroner court sitting in the Ikorodu area of the state, seeking to call more witnesses in the bid to unravel the cause of his son’s death.
The witnesses requested to testify before the court include Primeboy, Spending and Boluwatife Adeyemo aka Darosha; all of whom were alleged to have been with the deceased at the material time.
Mohbad died on September 12 at the age of 27, with circumstances surrounding his death sparking controversies on social media.
Being a former record label signee of Marlian Music owned by Naira Marley, Mohbad left the label in February 2022.
The state police command had on September 18, 2023, inaugurated a 13-man special investigation team to probe the death.
His death also led to the arrest of Naira Marley, and controversial Lagos socialite, Balogun Eletu, aka Sam Larry, amongst others.
The body of Mohbad was on September 21, 2023, exhumed for autopsy to unravel the cause of his death.
Hundeyin had tweeted in September 2023 that an “autopsy has been concluded” and the police were “awaiting result.”
Meanwhile, Aloba, in November 2023, had stated that nobody should collect his son’s body for burial without his authorisation.
In an interview in December 2023, Hundeyin reiterated that the command had not received the report of the autopsy.
When contacted, Wunmi’s lawyer, Taiwo Olawanle, declined to speak on the matter.
He said, “The matter is pending before a coroner inquest which is a court, we don’t want to comment on it.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
