- Joseph Aloba, father of late singer Mohbad, has filed an appeal.
- The appeal challenges a Lagos High Court ruling that cleared Naira Marley and Sam Larry of involvement in Mohbad’s death.
- The appeal was submitted to the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal.
Joseph Aloba, father of the late singer Mohbad, has filed an appeal challenging the Lagos High Court’s judgment that upheld the legal advice exonerating Naira Marley and Sam Larry from any involvement in his son’s controversial death.
The appeal, submitted to the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal, seeks to overturn the July 2, 2025, ruling issued by Justice D.T. Olatokun.
Through his legal representatives, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Wahab Shittu and Don Akaegbu, Aloba contested the validity of the legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), which formed the basis for clearing key suspects in the case.
According to documents reviewed by PUNCH Metro, Aloba argued that the trial judge was wrong in holding that the Attorney-General’s authority under Section 211(1) of the 1999 Constitution was absolute and beyond judicial oversight. He insisted that such prosecutorial powers must align with justice, fairness, and public interest, and should not be used to shield suspects from legal accountability.
Referencing Elias v. Arkas (2018) 10 NWLR (Pt 1626) Pg 37, he maintained that the Attorney-General’s discretion must remain subject to court review, especially where its application appears biased or unjust.
Aloba requested the appellate court to nullify the High Court’s ruling and to issue a certiorari order that would invalidate the DPP’s advisory documented as LJP/HOM/2023/170 relating to his son’s case.
The Attorney-General of Lagos State, Lawal Pedro (SAN), and the DPP were named as respondents in the appeal.
Aloba also emphasized that at the time the DPP issued its recommendation, the coroner’s inquest into Mohbad’s death initiated on September 29, 2023 had not yet been finalized. He alleged that certain individuals mentioned during the inquest were released prematurely and had not yet provided necessary testimony.
He further accused the police and the DPP of sidelining the coroner, thereby disrupting the statutory process of the inquest.
