Court dismisses Mohbad’s father’s case against Naira Marley, Sam Larry

A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has rejected an application brought by Mr Joseph Aloba, father of the late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, which sought to overturn the legal advice that cleared Azeez Fashola (known as Naira Marley) and Samson Balogun (known as Sam Larry) of any involvement in his son’s death.

Delivering the ruling on Wednesday, 2 July 2025, Justice Taiwo Olatokun ruled that the authority of the Lagos State Attorney General to determine whether or not to pursue a prosecution is final and cannot be challenged by the court.

Represented by senior advocate Dr Wahab Shittu (SAN), Aloba had requested the court to invalidate the legal advice issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), claiming it denied him a fair hearing and prejudiced the ongoing coroner’s inquest into his son’s death.

He further alleged that critical suspects identified during the inquest were released prematurely on the basis of the DPP’s advice.

In response, state lawyers argued in a counter-affidavit that the individuals in question were discharged but not acquitted, and that the law does not require the DPP to consult the coroner before issuing legal advice.

Justice Olatokun upheld the state’s position, affirming that the DPP acted lawfully and that Aloba’s application was without merit.