The Lagos Coroner’s Court, presided over by Magistrate T.A. Sotobi, has issued a stern warning to absent witnesses in the inquest into the death of singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad.
According to Taiwo Odumosu, head of the Aloba family’s legal team, only one key witness, Boluwatife Adeyemo (aka Darosha), an ally of Mohbad, was present at Wednesday’s court sitting.
Magistrate Sotobi threatened to compel the absent witnesses to testify if they continue to disregard summons.
To ensure witness participation, the court granted permission for Mohbad’s father, Joseph Aloba, to serve witness summonses through: Newspaper notices, and Social media notifications.
The witnesses include Azeez Fashola aka Naira Marley; Samson Eletu aka Sam Larry; Mohbad’s sister-in-law, Karimot Ogunbayo; Mohbad’s lawyer, Oluwasanmi Falade, the nurse who reportedly treated the singer before his death, Feyisayo Ogedengbe, and the driver who drove him to the hospital, Fidelis Esanbor.
The head of the Aloba family’s legal team, Taiwo Odumosu told newsmen after the trial that Mohbad’s ally, Boluwatife Adeyemo aka Darosha, was the only key witness present at the court sitting on Wednesday.
Odumosu said the magistrate had considered issuing a subpoena on them if they did not appear at the next court sitting.
According to The Punch, the lawyer said, “Today’s sitting was to continue with the examination of witnesses to know what happened to Mohbad and how he died. So, among all the key witnesses invited and served through substituted means, only Darosha was in court,”
“Meanwhile, the magistrate said she would issue another witness summons one last time chance. She said if they fail to appear on the next adjourned date, they will be subpoenaed,” he added.
The court adjourned the hearing to September 30.
Mohbad died at the age of 27, on September 12, 2023, with circumstances surrounding his death sparking controversies on social media.
His mother, Abosede expressed support for internal resolution within the deceased’s family to the crisis when she spoke on the court premises on Wednesday.
The mother said: “I don’t want anybody to do anything and what his father says should be regarded as the final decision. I don’t want anybody to do anything. What I want is for them to go to church and mosque to pray for him (referring to Mohbad).
“This is because everything people are doing does not make sense. They did not make us (the family) happy. The mother and the father are not happy. We beg them (the government) in the name of God to let us be and allow our family to settle this case.”
