It’s a serious offense to withhold information on Mohbad’s death, family lawyer warns

The family lawyer of Mohbad has called on the public to come forward if they have information that can help the investigation into the cause of the singer’s death. 

Born Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, Mohbad died under mysterious circumstances on September 12 and was buried the next day.

There have been rumours swirling on social media insinuating the cause of the singer’s death.

But in a statement shared with TheCable Lifestyle on Monday, Monisola Esther, a member of the family’s legal team, voiced worries about the sensitive information on the singer’s demise being made public.

Esther said due to the nature of Mohbad’s death, his family is calling on anyone with “relevant information on the singer’s death to reach out to the legal team to facilitate proper legal connectivity”.

The statement also assured “police protection for witnesses and suspects”.

Esther reminded the public that “failing to report information about a serious crime like murder can be considered an offense”.

“Given the nature of the death of the late musician, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba (Mohbad), and the information being released to the public space which ordinarily should have been given to the police, the Legal Team to the Aloba Family wishes to advise that anyone with useful and relevant information that could aid in the search for and the circumstances leading to the death of the singer should reach out to the Legal Team to facilitate proper legal connectivity,” the statement reads in part.

“The police can also be contacted to ensure the safety and protection of witnesses and suspects. Additionally, the coroner’s inquest has issued witness summonses for those relevant to its investigation.

“Please, note that Joseph Aloba does not seek to pursue any personal or familiar relationships at this point. His whole interest is focused on getting to the bottom and finding out details as to what happened to his dear son and the circumstances that led to his untimely demise. The Coroner’s Court is the best forum to disclose any information that could assist in the fact-finding mission of the court.

“In Nigeria like any other advanced nation, failing to report information about a serious crime like murder can be considered an offence. Under the Criminal Code Act, specifically Section 322 (which is applicable nationwide), “anyone who knows that a crime has been committed and fails to report it to the authorities may be guilty of an offence”. This is particularly relevant for serious crimes such as murder, where withholding information can significantly hinder the investigation and prosecution process. In Lagos State, this falls under the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Amended).”

On September 21, Mohbad’s body was exhumed for an autopsy at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). The autopsy revealed no significant findings that could be attributed to his death.

The singer’s family rejected the results and demanded an independent investigation.

Monisola Odumosu, another member of the Aloba legal team, revealed that a two-part autopsy is currently underway, with the first phase completed and the second part involving toxicology and histology tests.