The Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has dismissed the application filed by Joseph Aloba, father of the late Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, which sought to nullify the legal advice and proceedings that cleared music executive Naira Marley and show promoter Sam Larry of any criminal liability in the singer’s death.
Justice Taiwo Olatokun, who presided over the case, ruled on Wednesday that the Attorney General of Lagos State holds absolute prosecutorial powers which cannot be questioned by any court. She further stated that the decision to prosecute or not lies solely within the discretionary authority of the Attorney General and is constitutionally protected.
Aloba’s application, filed through his lead counsel Wahab Shittu SAN, argued that the legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) was premature and denied the family a fair hearing, especially as the Coroner’s inquest into Mohbad’s death has not yet concluded. Shittu emphasized that the family’s intention was not to indict anyone, but to ensure justice is served, adding that they plan to appeal the court’s decision.
The legal advice had controversially freed Naira Marley and Sam Larry from any criminal charges, despite their earlier arrests and public scrutiny over alleged involvement in Mohbad’s demise.
In response to the suit, the respondents—the Attorney General and DPP—argued that their actions were within the scope of the law. They maintained that the suspects were not acquitted but discharged, and that the issuance of the legal advice did not require prior approval or notification from the Coroner presiding over the ongoing inquest.
As the legal battle over Mohbad’s death intensifies, public interest remains high, with many Nigerians closely watching for any developments that could offer clarity or closure in the tragic case of the late singer.
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