Police grill Mohbad’s dad for allegedly defaming Lagos monarch

Father of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad, Joseph Aloba, was interrogated by officers of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State on Monday, following a petition filed by Oba Saheed Elegushi.

Monisola Odumosu, head of the Aloba legal team, in a statement on Tuesday, said that the petition concerns allegations of cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and criminal defamation.

Odumosu explained that the allegation arose from an interview Aloba recently gave.

READ ALSO: Toxicology results in Mohbad’s death sent to pathologist for analysis

The statement read: “Mr. Aloba was invited by the police and accompanied to the station by his legal representatives, Teri Wellington and Monisola Odumosu.

“The petition was filed by Oba Saheed Elegushi, who alleged that during one of Mr Aloba’s interviews with a London-based blogger, he was criminally defamed.

“During the interview with the London-based blogger, it was alleged that Mr. Aloba said his son was bullied and killed on the instruction of Oba Elegushi and that it was one Sam Larry who was sent to do the job.”

READ ALSO: Mohbad: Court orders remand of Naira Marley, Sam Larry, two others

According to the statement, Aloba clarified that he did not intend to defame or engage in cyberbullying or cyberstalking against Oba Elegushi; he was simply seeking justice for his late son.

Odumosu added that Aloba further clarified that he had no proof to support the allegation against the monarch, except for the petition written by his late son and other phone conversations he had with him.

Odumosu noted that the monarch, who was present at the meeting, demanded a retraction.

Odumosu stressed that Aloba was neither arrested nor detained.

He said, “In fairness to Oba Elegushi, he only demanded the retraction of the defamatory statements made by Mr Aloba on social media. Mr. Aloba was never arrested or detained. He was granted bail without stress. It is important to note that Mr. Aloba is still grieving the death of his son. He just lost a single star in the family firmament.”

Mohbad died at the age of 27 on September 12, 2023, with the circumstances surrounding his death sparking controversies on social media.

READ ALSO: Lagos monarch petitions Police over Mohbad’s son paternity saga

As a former signee of Marlian Music, owned by Naira Marley, Mohbad left the label in February 2022.

The Lagos State Police Command inaugurated a 13-man special investigation team on September 18, 2023, to probe the singer’s death.

His death also led to the arrest of Naira Marley and controversial Lagos socialite Balogun Eletu, also known as Sam Larry, among others.

The singer’s body was exhumed on September 21, 2023, for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.