Mohbad Fans Resume Call for Justice One Year After Passing Away

Mohbad passed on exactly a year today. A peaceful protest was held outside the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ikorodu on Wednesday to honor Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, a street-hop artist who died under controversial circumstances on September 12, 2023, in Lagos.

The demonstration, called “Justice for Mohbad,” was led by Yoruba actor Yomi Fabiyi outside the court, where a coroner’s inquest into Mohbad’s death is ongoing. Mohbad’s body, which was hastily buried after his death, was exhumed a week later for a post-mortem due to public outrage. Eyewitnesses and online users claimed that Mohbad’s neck appeared broken to fit into the casket.

Fans and associates also uncovered videos and photos showing Mohbad being assaulted, allegedly by former music colleagues after he tried to leave their label. Public sympathy and the number of suspects increased daily, with Marlian Records founder Naira Marley, his associate Sam Larry, and artist Zinoleesky facing backlash online.

To further investigate his death, Mohbad’s body was exhumed on September 21, 2023, a week after his burial. Earlier this year, in February, it was reported that delays in the autopsy results were due to samples being sent to NMS Labs in Pennsylvania, USA, for toxicology and skeletal analysis. The prolonged delay has fueled public suspicion.

Reacting to the protest, Mohbad’s mother, Mrs. Abosede Aloba, asked the public to pray for her late son and urged authorities to release his remains for a proper burial. She stated, “Whatever Mohbad’s father says is final. We don’t support any celebrations in his remembrance. The best thing is to pray for him. We are also pleading with authorities to release his body so the family can resolve the issues and move forward.”

Mohbad, also known as Imole, was a Nigerian rapper, singer, and songwriter. He was formerly signed to Naira Marley’s Marlian Records before leaving in 2022 to create his own label, Imolenization. He was known for hit songs like “Peace,” “Ko Por Ke (KPK),” and “Sabi.” He was married and had a son with his longtime friend, Wunmi.