MohBad's Dad in Police Custody for Alleged Defamation

Joseph Aloba

Police question the father of the late musician (Mohbad) for slandering Oba Saheed Elegushi.

In response to a petition submitted by Oba Saheed Elegushi, Joseph Aloba, the late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, also known as Mohbad, has been questioned by the police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Aloba stated last month that his late son had filed a police petition, claiming Oba Elegushi had given the music promoter Sam Larry and his friends the order to kill him.

He said during an interview: “They said a king sent them. I do not understand that part. We have never met. I do not like to lie. I did not see any traces. But it was in the petition that the king sent them to kill him.

“My son wrote in the petition that they were sent to beat him to death. And after two and half months he died. My son wrote it and said Sam Larry and his people were sent by Oba Elegushi sent them.”

The representative for Aloba, Monisola Odumosu, stated in a statement that Elegushi's petition involves accusations of criminal defamation, cyberstalking, and cyberbullying. According to Odumosu, the petition was prompted by the statements Aloba made during the interview.

The statement reads in part: “Mr Aloba was invited by the police and led to the police station by the representatives of his legal team, Teri Wellington and Monisola Odumosu. The petition was written 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, Mr. Aloba granted the London-based blogger, it was alleged that he said, '... his son was bullied and killed on the instruction of Oba Elegushi and that it was one Sam Larry that was sent to do the job.”

The lawyer claimed that Aloba “did not have any proof to support the allegation against the monarch except the petition written by my late son and other phone conversations he had with him.”

Additionally, the lawyer made it clear that Mohbad's father was just requested to withdraw and was never actually detained.

“In fairness to Oba Elegushi, he only demanded the retraction of the defaming statements made by Mr Aloba on social media,” said the statement.

“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.

“Any grieving parent may on the spur of the moment make statements that may tend to be unreasonable. We only need to understand the geographical circumstances giving rise to his utterances.”

The police spokesman for the FCID, Aminat Mayegun, added that Aloba was asked to present evidence to support his accusations against Elegushi. She said that Aloba was freed on Tuesday right away and that an inquiry is still ongoing.

“So we now have to invite him to provide evidence to back up his word. Because it was even Oba Elegushi who wrote the petition against him over defamation of character. But we are still investigating the matter. Oba Elegushi is just trying to tell him that he should bring proof or else he should take back his statements. But the matter is still ongoing,” she said.

“Yes. Definitely, he was released. It was an invite.”

On September 12, 2023, Mohbad passed away. The next day, he was buried. His body was exhumed by authorities on September 21 in preparation for an autopsy. The singer's remains had decayed by the time tests were performed eight months after the autopsy, making it impossible to pinpoint the cause of death.

A disturbing video has emerged on social media, showing a confrontation involving Mohbad and Larry at a music video shoot with Zlatan. In the clip, Larry and his associates arrive at the shoot location, ordering Mohbad to leave the premises. The incident, which occurred before Mohbad's passing, has sparked fresh concerns and renewed attention in the wake of his tragic death.

Zlatan had to step in to make sure Mohbad didn't get struck by what looked like Larry's stick.

The palace of Elegushi of Eti-Osa refuted the claim that Larry belonged to the royal family, which had gone viral.