The Coroner’s Inquest set up by the Lagos State Government to investigate the controversial death of singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has concluded with key recommendations, including the prosecution of the unlicensed nurse who treated him in his final hours.
The 26-year-old artist died on September 12, 2023, two days after he reportedly sustained an injury to the back of his right arm.
He was said to have suffered a convulsion shortly after being injected at his Lekki residence by nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe.
Following public outrage and allegations surrounding his sudden death, the Lagos State Judiciary ordered a coroner’s inquest, which was presided over by Magistrate Adedayo Shotobi at the Ikorodu Magistrates Court.
Nineteen witnesses, including family members and medical experts, testified during the proceedings.
Family members, their legal representatives Wahab Shittu (SAN), Kabir Akingbola, and Abiola Kolawole of the African Women Lawyers Association, were present as the Coroner delivered the highly anticipated verdict.
Relying on testimony from two pathologists who conducted separate autopsies, the court found that while the decomposed state of Mohbad’s body made it difficult to determine a definitive cause of death, a severe reaction to the injection was the most probable cause.
The Coroner described the incident as a case of medical negligence, not foul play.
“I cannot certify a true cause of death, but I draw a link from the sudden reaction after the deceased was injected by the nurse,” the Coroner stated. “The death is not linked to any evidence of foul play, but to medical negligence.”
While testimonies from Mohbad’s wife, Wunmi, and others pointed to alleged bullying and threats from his former label boss Azeez Fashola (a.k.a. Naira Marley) and associate Sam Larry, the court found no direct link between them and his immediate cause of death.
Also Read: Mohbad Coroner Inquest Summons Key Witnesses Naira Marley, Sam Larry
The court also criticized the circumstances surrounding Mohbad’s hasty burial, describing it as “undignified.” It faulted his father, Joseph Aloba, for failing to obtain a death certificate or conduct an autopsy before burial, despite receiving financial support from fellow artiste Davido.
The Coroner also faulted the wife for not insisting on proper medical care and failing to document the mishandling of the corpse.
In a broader reflection, the Coroner observed that Mohbad’s death was the result of systemic failures — by his family, the medical system, public institutions, and the music industry.
Among the Coroner’s key recommendations were:
* Prosecution of Nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe for gross medical negligence.
* An urgent and proper reburial of the late artiste.
* Investigation into police inaction on the petition Mohbad filed alleging threats to his life.
* Stronger legal frameworks to tackle bullying and exploitation in the entertainment industry.
* Banning unlicensed individuals from administering intravenous medication.
* Mandatory investigation into the sudden deaths of young and apparently healthy persons before burial.
The findings bring some closure to a tragic chapter in Nigeria’s music scene, while also calling for lasting institutional reforms.
