News

Mohbad’s Father Drags Primeboy, Others Before Coroner

Published

1 year ago

January 23, 2024

Editor

An application seeking to call more witnesses in the bid to unravel the cause of the death of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba aka Mohbad, has been filed at the coroner court sitting in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

This was contained in a statement obtained by PUNCH Metro on Monday and signed by Monisola Odumosu of the Hillceetee Partners on behalf of the deceased’s father, Joseph Aloba.

In the application signed by Emmanuel Oroko. It was noted that the testimonies of the witnesses in the ongoing inquest would provide more factual, evidential, and better light on the circumstances leading to the death of the late singer.

The law firm said their research had shown “that there were incidents on the Third Mainland Bridge at about 2.30 am (Sunday, September 10, 2023), (which) the appropriate witnesses did not mention and which no one has related at the Coroner Inquest and in our opinion would have given away the circumstantial event that led to the death of Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba.”

The application also revealed that there were events on September 12, 2023, at the deceased’s residence, which were not mentioned by the appropriate witnesses.

According to Odumosu, the application indicated that such information would have given a better insight into the real cause of the death of the deceased, adding that recent events had shown that some probable witnesses had been subpoenaed.

It added, “These key witnesses include the driver of the car that drove the deceased, his wife, his brother, and the witnesses proposed to the honourable inquest. Furthermore, the law firm believes that the situation of the CCTV at the deceased’s residential premises not functional at the time the deceased and others came home may not be true.”

The statement added that the witnesses requested to testify before the court include, “Ayobami Fisayo aka Spending, Boluwatife Adeyemo aka Darosha and Ibrahim Owodunni aka Prime Boy; all of whom were with the deceased at the material time.”

The law firm further asserted in the application that the evidence of these witnesses would help expound and give further clarity on the ongoing inquest in no small measure to understand the reasons and events leading to the death of the deceased.

“The application would also afford the inquest to make appropriate recommendations to the appropriate authority on who is culpable in the case.

“This would meet the justice of the case if the individuals proposed to be called could give their eyewitness accounts of the events that led to the death of Mohbad,” the statement added.

A source in the family told The PUNCH on Monday that the request came on the heels of the suspension of the ongoing inquest by the coroner.

The source who craved anonymity said, “We were surprised when we found out that the coroner had stopped sitting while waiting for the result of the pathologist. A pathologist is meant to investigate the cause of the death but there is still some circumstantial evidence which had been held on to and this would unravel the real cause of the death.”

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

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

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

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

The body of Mohbad was on September 21, 2023, exhumed for autopsy to unravel the cause of his death.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, had tweeted in September 2023 that an “autopsy has been concluded” and the police were “awaiting result.”

In the course of its probe, the police declared Primeboy wanted on October 4, 2023, after which he turned himself in two days after.

Meanwhile, Aloba, in November 2023, had stated that nobody should collect his son’s body for burial without his authorisation.

In an interview with The PUNCH in December 2023, Hundeyin reiterated that the command had not received the report of the autopsy conducted on Mohbad from the pathologists.

News

Diri Approves Automatic Employment For UAT First Class Graduates

Published

2 hours ago

June 21, 2025

Editor

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has offered automatic employment to First Class degree graduates of the University of Africa, Toru-Orua (UAT), in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement, the Chief Press Secretary to governor, Daniel Alabrah, said Diri made the announcement on Saturday at the maiden combined convocation ceremony of 2020/2021, 2021/2022, 2022/2023 and 2024 academic sessions of the university.

Diri said the gesture was part of measures to check the brain drain syndrome.

The governor said the gesture had been replicated in other state-owned tertiary institutions such as the Niger Delta University, Amassoma, in line with his administration’s policy to prioritise education and boost human capital development.

Congratulating the graduands, the governor praised his predecessor, Senator Seriake Dickson representing Bayelsa West, for his vision and political will in establishing the UAT, which he noted was meeting the educational needs of the state and beyond.

“ln line with our government’s policy, all First Class graduates of UAT will be offered automatic employment to ensure that we do not lose our best brains.

“This first combined convocation ceremony of UAT is momentous and historical. When l took over as governor, l had a lot of presentations, which included closing down the UAT. But l came to the inescapable conclusion that rather than shutting it down, l opted to establish more because education remains our number one priority.”

As Visitor to the UAT, Diri announced the appointment and investiture of Dr. Nwachukwu Nnam Obi III, Ogba of Ogbaland in Rivers State, as the institution’s Chancellor.

Responding to the challenges presented by the Vice Chancellor, Diri said government will continue to address them through collaborative efforts and urged the institution to explore funding modules towards generating income.

While assuring that the auditorium and Senate building projects would be completed before the end of his tenure, the state’s chief executive promised that government would also address the problem of staff accommodation and that transport vehicles will be provided to ease the challenges faced by workers and students at UAT, NDU and the Federal University, Otuoke.

On the institution’s power needs, Diri said when the 60mw independent power plant procured by the government becomes functional, it would cover the university’s location.

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Solomon Ebobrah, announced that 66 were awarded first class degrees out of the 905 graduands of the four academic sessions.

He expressed appreciation to the Diri administration for its increased monthly subvention to the UAT and listed a number of challenges to include uncompleted auditorium and Senate buildings, lack of perimeter fencing, power supply, staff accommodation, lecture theatres, teaching and non-teaching staff office accommodation among others.

In his remarks, the Pro Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Barr. Kemela Okara, equally expressed gratitude to government for its support towards the successful accreditation of all programmes by the National Universities Commission.

News

Aiyedatiwa Proposes Death Penalty For Kidnappers

Published

3 hours ago

June 21, 2025

Editor

In a bid to eradicate kidnapping in the state, the Ondo State Government has proposed a death sentence for whoever is found guilty of kidnapping in the state.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Dr Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, disclosed this while speaking with journalists on Saturday after the weekly state executive council meeting.

It was gathered that the state governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa presided over the meeting.

Ajulo said the proposal would soon be transmitted to the state House of Assembly for necessary legislative action.

He said, ”Kidnapping and cultism have become major threats to safety and public order and strengthening relevant legal frameworks would help deter such crimes and improve the overall security landscape.

”The proposals would soon be transmitted to the House of Assembly for necessary legislative action, including sentencing convicted kidnappers to death.”

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, Lands and Housing, Engr. Abiola Olawoye, revealed that the Executive Council approved the construction of two major dual-carriageway road projects in the state.

According to him, the first is the construction of a 24.75-kilometre dual carriageway from Ugbeyin Junction – Okitipupa Market – OAUSTECH – Ugbonla Junction – Igbokoda Jetty.

“The road will feature a 9.3-metre wide carriageway on both sides, a 1.2-metre median, concrete line drains, walkways, asphaltic shoulders in undeveloped areas, a 3-metre utility area, and solar-powered streetlights along the median. The entire road corridor is 28 metres wide, with a total right of way of 40 metres. It will also include modern traffic lights at critical intersections and is designed to carry heavy traffic with a reinforced pavement structure.

”The second project is the construction of a 6.7-kilometre dual carriageway from Supare Junction – Akungba – Ikare Road in Akoko area of the state. The specifications are similar, including a 9.3-metre carriageway on either side, 1.2-metre median, reinforced concrete line drains, walkways, a 3-metre utility area, solar-powered streetlights, and traffic management systems. It is also built to withstand heavy vehicular movement.

“In addition to these, the council approved the provision and installation of 6,000 standalone solar streetlights across the three senatorial districts—2,000 each for Ondo North, Ondo Central, and Ondo South. This is part of the state’s agenda to improve safety and public lighting infrastructure.”

News

Sokoto Gov, Aliyu Met With Bandits, Gives Reason

Published

3 hours ago

June 21, 2025

Editor

The Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, has said the government’s engagement with repentant bandits is a deliberate step towards achieving genuine reconciliation and lasting peace in communities ravaged by insecurity.

In a statement on Friday by his Special Adviser on Security Matters, Col. Ahmed Usman (rtd.), Aliyu said his administration’s peace efforts were guided by a genuine desire to end the cycle of violence, not by weakness or fear.

Usman was responding to recent criticisms by a social media commentator, Basharu Giyawa, who questioned the rationale behind ongoing peace overtures to armed groups willing to lay down their weapons in the state.

He noted that Giyawa had previously expressed willingness to act as a mediator between the government and the armed elements, making his current criticism contradictory.

According to Usman, the administration is not negotiating from a position of weakness, but rather implementing a balanced, human-centered approach to end years of violence that have devastated communities in Rabah, Goronyo, Isa, Sabon Birni, and other local government areas.

“Our meeting with bandits is for genuine reconciliation. It is a strategic decision aimed at restoring peace and rebuilding communities destroyed by years of armed attacks.

“Our people are living with the daily trauma of displacement. Farmers have abandoned their fields, food production has collapsed, and economic life has been crippled. The impact is visible in rising food prices and growing insecurity,” he noted.

Usman clarified that only those who show sincere commitment to peace, and agree to strict rehabilitation and monitoring, would be considered for dialogue.

He maintained that security forces remained actively deployed where necessary, and that dialogue was only extended to those who sincerely wish to renounce violence and undergo strict rehabilitation and monitoring.

Usman stressed that the dialogue was part of a broader security strategy that still involves the active deployment of security forces across volatile areas.

“This is not appeasement. It is a human-centred approach to peace and development.”