Court Throws Out Mohbad’s Father’s Lawsuit Against Naira Marley, Sam Larry

The Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Mr. Joseph Aloba, father of the late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba (popularly known as Mohbad), which sought to invalidate a legal advisory clearing Naira Marley, Sam Larry, and others of involvement in his son’s death.

Justice Taiwo Olatokun, who delivered the ruling on Wednesday, held that the Lagos State Attorney General, through the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), has the constitutional authority to decide who should face prosecution. The court ruled that these powers are not subject to judicial interference in the way Aloba requested.

“The Attorney General’s powers under the Constitution are not open to review in this manner,” Justice Olatokun declared. “As such, the applicant’s claims are without merit and are dismissed.”

Mr. Aloba, represented by human rights lawyer Wahab Shittu, had alleged that the legal advice issued by the DPP violated the principle of fair hearing. He argued that the release of the suspects undermined the integrity of the ongoing coroner’s inquest into his son’s passing.

However, the court disagreed, affirming that the DPP acted lawfully and based the decision on a careful evaluation of available evidence.

The ruling clarified that the suspects—Naira Marley, Sam Larry, Prime Boy, and Babatunde Opere—were not exonerated but were let go due to lack of evidence directly or indirectly linking them to the musician’s death.

A counter-affidavit submitted on June 24, 2025, by Ayinde Ibrahim, a legal officer with the DPP, explained that the advice was issued after a detailed assessment of the police case file. He added that the coroner and the applicant were not privy to all investigative findings.

“No direct or circumstantial evidence connected the named individuals to the death,” Ibrahim stated. “The decision to discharge them was in line with legal standards and the facts available.”