Mohbad’s Spirit Is Strong, I Find It Hard To Sleep – Davido

Nigeria born international music star, David Adeleke well known as Davido has said he can’t sleep easily since the death of a young upcoming artiste, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba largely known as Mohbad who died on September 12, 2023 in a manner suspected to be conspired murder.

Davido made this known via a post on his Instagram story, after confirming he would be present at the candlelight procession to honour the late singer coming up this Thursday.

“On the way 🇳🇬. Mohbad (your) spirit strong ooo..sleep come hard me,” he wrote.

It is gathered that the procession will begin at the Lekki Phase 1 gate and end with a tribute concert at Muri Okunola Park.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State police command of the Nigeria Police Force has commenced investigation into the alleged killing of the young upcoming artiste, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba with the stage name, Mohbad. The Police command met with the parents and loved ones of the deceased on Monday at the command headquarters with the Commissioner of Police in attendance. The CP assured the parents and fans of the music star that proper investigation will be carried out and justice will be served on anyone found wanting. The CP said with the help of Interpol, anyone that have anything to do with the death can choose to run but will be caught at the right time based on the outcome of the full-scale investigation launched into the matter.

Earlier, the Command spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin said: “Consequent upon the growing public concerns and the preliminary police review of the general circumstances sorrounding the death of Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba a.k.a Mohbad, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Idowu Owohunwa, has directed the commencement of full-scale criminal investigation into the case. To this end, the Commissioner of Police has constituted a Special Investigation Team within the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to coordinate the investigation.

“The team, which comprises seasoned homicide detectives, has been tasked to aggregate all allegations, suspicions and insinuations from various sources on the death of the singer and undertake a professional, diligent and timely investigation with a view to establishing facts, clearing all doubts and ensuring that justice is manifestly served through a meticulous process that will deploy all requisite protocols (which may include exhumation), as well as technical and scientific tools that are vital to the detailed investigation of homicide allegations of this nature.

“In aid of this initiative, the Lagos State Government has pledged its total support to the Special Investigation Team in all ways required to guarantee a diligent investigative exercise. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu gave this assurance while consulting with the State Commissioner of Police earlier today (September 16, 2023) on how best to ensure that the case is expeditiously investigated and justice delivered promptly.

“Meanwhile, an appeal is hereby made to the deceased’s family, friends, business associates or anyone with useful information that could aid the investigation to kindly share same with the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department on 08036885727 and to optimally support the Police in the drive for a conclusive investigation of the case. The Lagos State Police Command assures that progress of the investigation will, as much as legally and professionally permissible, be shared with the general public accordingly”.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, also said in a television interview that the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the monarch of the Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom in Lagos State, Saheed Ademola Elegushi, have stated that they have no affiliations with singer Naira Marley and his ally, Sam Larry.

The police spokesman statement is coming days after knocks trailed photos of Governor Sanwo-Olu with Naira Marley, whose birth name is Afeez Fashola.

Speaking during the TVC’s ‘Your View’ programme on Monday, Hundeyin responded to questions about the governor’s stance on the now-viral photos. According to the police PRO, he received a call from one of the governor’s aides on Friday saying governor Sanwo-Olu has no affiliation with the singer.

Hundeyi also addressed Oba Elegushi’s rumored affiliations with Sam Larry, a close associate of Naira Marley, also fingered in the death of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba mainly known as MohBad, alongside Naira Marley.

“On Friday, I received a call from one of the Special Advisers to the governor, and he told me that the governor does not know him (Naira Marley) don’t even have the idea that he is our boy. He disowned him.

“Oba Elegushi also called saying he does not know this person (Sam Larry) go ahead and do your investigations,” Hundeyin stated.

Mohbad died at the age of 27 on September 12, 2023 and was buried next day in a manner many considered too in a hurry. The death has since caused a major uproar on social media and parts of Lagos State leading to destruction and burning down houses and other properties seemingly belonging to Naira Marley and Sam Larry, just as many alleged that his former boss, Naira Marley, alongside associate Sam Larry, had a hand in Mohbad’s death.

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA has denied any involvement in the death of the upcoming artiste. The spokesman for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Femi Babafemi, debunked claims that the late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, mainly known as MohBad, was poisoned in their custody.

In an X social media post on Saturday, Babafemi stated that the deceased was not one of the Marlian Music artistes arrested by the agency in 2022, as speculated by many. The claim of the NDLEA contradicted a Punch newspaper report with video evidence on February 24, 2022 wherein, Mohbad alongside another Marlian artiste were seen arrested by the officials of the NDLEA.

The Punch Newspaper posted a video with credit given to a Twitter user named Quadri2Yahya which showed NDLEA officials arrested Singers, Zinoleesky, Mohbad in midnight raid. Accordingly, they were reportedly arrested at their residence in Idado Estate, Lagos.

Babafemi shared a link by an online platform which detailed the arrest of six people, two females, and four males, in the persons of Oniyide Azeez (Zinoleesky), Owoeye Michael (male) and Abimbola Ogbe (male).

Others are Dominica Chinwe (female), Olaolohun Shubomi Mariam (female), and Ibrahim Alawo (male). NDLEA spokesman stated in quote: “This is an authentic account of the arrest and detention of some Malian artistes in February 2022, an incident that has now been twisted by purveyors of fake news to say Mohbad was poisoned or detained by the agency. I hope, they’ll be bold enough to defend their claims when the hand of the law catches them,” Babafemi tweeted.

Babafemi’s tweeted hours after a now-viral video of the deceased surfaced online, showing him weeping in an environment that looked like an hospital. In the video, MohBad claimed he was harassed and given a white substance to consume.

“They gave me water to drink, it was inside a bottle of water plastic. They said I was using drugs. I was the only one who drank it, they didn’t give others to drink. I won’t lie. Then they told me to go home and told the others to wait. They even hit a gun on my head. I saved Zino in that video but Zino snitched on me.”

Mother to the late singer, Mohbad, in an emotion-laden video, recounted his last days, sharing details on how his former boss, Afeez Fashola, majorly known as Naira Marley, and his gang assaulted and victimised her son until his demise. Speaking in Yoruba language, she rejected the rumours saying that MohBad was mentally unstable, adding that her son lived in perpetual fear till his last days.

Adding to MohBad’s claims of being given a whitish substance to consume, she said, “My son was in the studio working when the other boys were arrested. He wasn’t even in the house when officers visited. Upon his release, MohBad told me he was given something to drink, and from that day, things got worse. My son lived in perpetual fear till the day he died. His troubles began when he joined Marlian Music. He ceased to be at peace since that day. I was called on multiple occasions and told how my son was battered and assaulted by Naira Marley and his people. MohBad boycotted several shows because of information that Naira Marley and his boys could be at the same show. MohBad was not mentally ill. I have remained quiet because I wasn’t permitted to speak until now. He was married with a son. How do people tag such a person as mad? I was home when I got a call on Monday that my son had passed. I was just with him days earlier, this is painful. All the people spreading rumours about him, fear God. Whoever has a hand in his death will surely face the wrath of God.

“I knew trouble was looming when he told me about Naira Marley. I am calling on Nigerians to help me get justice for my son.”

Shortly after his death, a petition written over an alleged threat to life by music promoter Samson Erinfolami Balogun known as Sam Larry and others, has surfaced online. According to the petition, Mohbad alleged that Sam Larry and 15 others stormed a video shoot where the deceased and another artiste, Zlatan Ibile, were working, armed, and threatening to wreak havoc.

The petition dated 27th June, 2023 read,

“PETITION OF THREAT TO LIFE, MALICIOUS DAMAGE OF PROPERTIES VALUED THE SUM OF FIVE MILLION NAIRA, ASSAULT OCCASIONING HARM, OPPRESSION AND CONDUCT LIKELY TO CAUSE BREACH OF PEACE AGAINST SAM LARRY ELEGUSHI, ELELE, OBELE AND OTHERS. I of the above name and address, a law abiding citizen and a Musician bring to your notice the assault and threat to my life by the above mentioned persons.

“On 25th June, 2023 while having a video shoot with another artist by name Zlatan (Ibile, the above mentioned persons numbering about fifteen led by Sam Larry Elegushi invaded the premises with dangerous arms such as guns, cutlasses etc where I was shooting video and scattered the whole process of the shooting, damaged the equipment I was using for the shooting valued about Five Million Naira and started threatening my life which in the process they became violent and assaulted me which I sustained injuries but narrowly escaped.

“Attached to this petition is the said pictures. Total amount I paid for the shooting they have destroyed is Eight Million Naira (₦8,000,000) which is non-refundable. However, during the assault, they were boasting that they work for Oba Elegushi and that they have been asked to deal with me for reasons best known to them which till date they are still threatening to kill me if seen. Sir, I call on your good office to save my life from the above mentioned persons and bring them to book. Thank you for your timely intervention.”

The father of the late Nigerian singer in a video interview that went viral on Saturday, Joseph Aloba said, “I think the injection led to his death. I don’t know the people that took him to the hospital, but according to what I heard, he was vomiting after receiving the injection and that was when they decided to take him to the hospital. I did not hear anything from the doctor because I was not there. They had returned him home when I met his body. So, I decided that they should  bring him to Ikorodu for his burial. My believe is that it’s God that gives and it’s God that takes.

“When he and Naira had issue, I can defend that my son was properly okay because that very day, I entered his house, prayed for him and he told me that he wants to go somewhere. On his way coming, one of his friends just came home and said that. He gave me the evidence that he was beaten up in the marlian house. When this issue was going on, I wanted to trek to Naira Marley’s house but I was scared of what I will meet there. There was a time Naira Marley called me and when I tried calling him back, it was not possible. I heard a lot of things happened to him (Mohbad) but we cannot say it was Naira Marley. He was attacked when he was doing this new album with Zlatan, but the Naira Marley was not with those that came.”

Show promoter, Samson Balogun Eletu, known as Sam Larry, has said that he has no hand in the untimely death of singer Ilerioluwa Aloba mainly known as MohBad.

On Friday, Eletu, who has remained mum since the MohBad’s death, stressed his non-involvement in the matter.

Sam Larry speaking in Yoruba language said: “I loved MohBad; he was like a brother to me. He was aware of how much I loved him and his wife all through the time he was signed to Marlian Records. Although we fight, I’d never go to the extent of having someone killed.

“I have no hand in his (MohBad) death; I am not responsible for his death.”

On the viral clips of him and his boys allegedly victimising and assaulting MohBad, Eletu said that some of the videos trending online are old videos.

He explained that the most viral video, where he and his boys allegedly disrupted a video shoot by the deceased and artiste Zlatan Ibile, did not happen as many are speculating online.

According to Eletu, he did not assault MohBad, adding that Zlatan can bear witness.

“The video that surfaced showing disruption at a video shoot where Zlatan and MohBad were did not happen as many are speculating online.

“You can ask Zlatan; I never touched MohBad on that day,” Eletu claimed.

Lagos State government delegation on Tuesday visited the mother of the late singer and assured the bereaved family of the government readiness to take care of the son the singer left behind. “I also want to reiterate that we are indeed on top of the situation”, the government delegation stated in video as posted by the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwu-Olu.

The delegation also assured the family of the government support towards the upbringing and welfare of his son, Liam Imole Aloba. “Our thoughts and pray are with the family. Please, let’s allow the police and DSS do their jobs, and update us as the investigation is ongoing. Let us come together as a community to support one another during this difficult period”, the delegation stated.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in earlier in a message said in quote: “I would like to assure everyone that I am not oblivious to the sad passing of Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Imole Aloba (Mohbad). We have been closely working behind the scenes with relevant authorities, and keenly following the ongoing investigations. However, in order to boost the investigations, I have invited the Department of State Services (DSS) to join the investigation and widen the dragnet with inter-agency collaboration and use of best in class technology to unearth the truth.

“I have instructed that all those who may have played any role whatsoever in any event leading to the death of MohBad be made to face the law after a thorough investigation. I hereby plead with all those who may have vital information that may assist the investigation process to avail the investigating team with such. I have also appealed to the investigating team to guarantee the confidentiality and protection of all witnesses who may come forward with vital information or indicative evidence that may assist the process. The Police and the DSS have promised to brief the public on their efforts periodically.

“I also appeal to all friends and fans of the deceased to stay calm and refrain from making inflammary utterances and reaching prejudicial conclusions on this matter. Staying calm and following the process will be our most solemn tribute to the memory of the departed talent. I hereby commiserate with the family, friends, colleagues, and fans all over the world on Imole’s sad demise. I wish everyone love and light, and may his soul rest in peace. Amen”.