The Federal High Court in Abuja will deliver judgment on September 29 in a lawsuit demanding a fresh investigation into the death of singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, known as Mohbad. Justice James Omotosho reserved judgment after hearing arguments from Chief Tunde Falola, counsel for the Break the Silence Foundation, which filed the suit. The case, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/363/2026, names the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command as respondents. None of the respondents appeared during the hearing.
Falola urged the court to grant the foundation's request for an order compelling police to reopen the investigation, citing unresolved aspects of Mohbad's death. He said the foundation believed key individuals seen with the singer before his death had not been sufficiently scrutinized. The court had previously allowed the foundation to initiate judicial review proceedings through an ex parte application for a mandamus. Falola stated the group sought justice due to dissatisfaction with the findings of the initial police probe.
Separately, Samson Obaboye applied to be joined as a party in the suit, saying he supported transparency and justice in the matter and had relevant information to offer. Justice Omotosho dismissed the application, ruling that Obaboye failed to show sufficient legal interest to justify inclusion. Mohbad died on September 12, 2023, in Lagos, triggering widespread public demand for clarity on the circumstances surrounding his death.
The police were absent in court despite a case demanding they reopen a high-profile investigation into Mohbad's death. The foundation pushing for the probe had to argue alone, while those responsible for the original investigation did not appear to defend their work. The court's decision to proceed without the police suggests official silence may not shield institutions from public scrutiny. When judgment is delivered on September 29, it will reflect on whether accountability can be enforced in the absence of state participation.
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