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One year after the mysterious death of the rapper and songwriter, Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka MohBad, the head of the Aloba family legal team, Taiwo Odumosu, in this interview with DAYO OYEWO, speaks on the legal process and the relentless pursuit of justice. Excerpts:
It’s been about a year since the investigation into MohBad’s death began, can you provide an update on the status of the probe?
Presently, we are approaching the issue from different angles. The second autopsy and toxicology test is being conducted as directed by the court. We hope this will shed more light on the circumstances leading to the death of MohBad. Presently, the specimen has been taken abroad by forensic experts for the toxicology examination. Given the controversy generated by the first autopsy, the forensic experts in their professional estimation believed the laboratory in Europe would be better. So they avoided the USA altogether. The DNA test too. Wunmi brought preliminary objection on some flimsy grounds. We have argued the objections and the ruling is reserved by the court for October 18.
With the controversy on the outcome of the first autopsy, how has the independent autopsy by the family fared?
Getting pathologists to attend to the matter was a bit tough. We got in touch with four pathologists: one from Kaduna, another from Maiduguri and one other place but they said powerful individuals were interested in the matter and declined to take it on. We also consulted those in America. However, because of the controversy trailing the first autopsy, we decided to boycott America altogether. For those who agreed to help us now, we thank them. The way to justice is always strewn with thorns. But we have the firm belief we shall get there.
Why the choice of a forensic pathologist in the northern region?
We don’t want anybody to compromise the process. We suspected that the delay of transferring the previous specimen to America took a long time. We also suspected government intervention and institutional laxity on the part of the police, so we decided to look elsewhere to do what we wanted. But we eventually got somebody.
What are the key challenges the legal team has faced in seeking justice for his family?
The biggest challenge we have had so far is from the Nigerian Police. Apart from the shoddy investigation that is clear even to the novice, they have refused to cooperate with us on certain levels. It is an open secret that the court granted the Aloba family an order to conduct another autopsy and toxicology test after the government-assisted toxicology test led to inconclusiveness. We sent a letter to the police informing them of the order of the court and the need for them to release documents and exhibits to the forensic experts. They didn’t acknowledge nor release the documents to the forensic pathologists. We sent a reminder to them and still, they ignored it. This sort of attitude does not commend the police to the populace.
The exact time MohBad died had been one of the subjects of controversies that trailed the late singer’s passing. Has the legal team looked into this?
The facts and information presented so far seem to cast doubts as to the exact time of MohBad’s passing. From a logical point of view, the time frame given by those who spoke after his death and what the deceased’s partner’s sister said seem to suggest that he could not have died on the day presented to the police or the Coroner Court. It is one of the issues we proposed to the pathologists to solve for us. We also expect the police to shed more light on this if indeed the investigating police officer did a thorough job. If he died the day he was buried, there wouldn’t be any need for traditional embalming. So we look forward to getting an answer to the time he died too.
How has the investigation’s progress impacted the family’s decision to lay MohBad to rest?
The investigation has been very slow. And the bulk of the burden rests with the police. We do not know whose interest they are protecting. We attempted to get private investigators. The three experts we got on different occasions declined to take on the investigative job. The fourth one attempted to take it. He consulted with some of his colleagues who are also experts in the detection of heinous crimes. But they told him that those behind the death of the late singer were powerful people, and they wouldn’t want to intervene in the matter. However, the decision to bury the late singer rests solely with the Aloba family. If the family decides to bury him today, the decision is theirs. As I have said, the reason they didn’t bury him was because of the need for a second autopsy and toxicology test.
Are there concerns about the so-called powerful individuals being the second time you mentioned it?
So far, we have been engaging the instrumentality of the law to get to the root of the case. I do not think we need to fear. For the private investigators who declined to work, they have their own procedures which I am ignorant of. I am not an investigator. Remember when Dele Giwa died? The late Chief Gani Fawehinmi did all that he could through the peripheral areas of the law. And at a point, we saw the frustration put on his way by the then officials in power. Notwithstanding, he made his points. We too will try our best to get to the root of the case. To that end, the more some key witnesses are being shielded from appearing before the Coroner Court the more we are convinced they have more information to give to the court. Nurse Ogedengbe, the IPO who has been invited more than six times by the court but has taken to his heels, all of them need to appear before the court and tell us what they know. You will be wondering why the police officer who investigated a matter suddenly developed cold feet to appear to answer simple questions about the investigation he carried out.
People had wondered why the family was so particular about the DNA test when the cause of MohBad’s death was yet to be unravelled. What is your take on this?
In a homicide case, you don’t overlook vital issues. While we are not saying MohBad died as a result of his doubts about the paternity of the baby, we should not close our eyes to the potentiality of such a source too. MohBad’s father said he wanted a DNA test. He must have his reasons. And looking at the generality of the circumstances of the death, it is worth the while to see if motive could be deduced from such an angle. It is a logical action to take. Apart from this, if those being suspected really took part in the murder of the deceased. It’s a legal principle that from a dishonourable cause, no action arises. In Latin maxim, it means ex turpi causa non oritur actio. An individual must be prevented from benefiting from their own wrongdoing. Under inheritance law, the concept of the slayer rule applies. This prohibits a person who unlawfully kills another from inheriting the victims. So it is reasonable for the Aloba family to look at the issues broadly in order not to deprive an innocent person of his or her dues.
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Happy 60th birthday to the super gorgeous media mogul and philanthropist extraordinaire, Mo Abudu.
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Priscy Ojo’s soon to be mother in law is not bad oh!!!!
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Yemi Adenuga becomes Ireland's first elected black female representative
Yemi Adenuga, (
@SharingWithYemi
) has made history by becoming the first black female representative to be elected to public office in Ireland.
Adenuga's victory in the Meath County Council elections marks a significant milestone in Irish politics, paving the way for greater diversity and representation.
The Yoruba woman will serve as a role model and inspiration for many, demonstrating that barriers can be broken and that everyone has the opportunity to make a difference.
Congratulations to Yemi Adenuga on her historic win
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UK to nominate Professor Dapo Akande as Judge to International Court of Justice
The United Kingdom National Group has announced its intention to nominate Professor Dapo Akande, a renowned expert of Yoruba origin, as a judge to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.
This historic nomination, set to take place in 2026, will mark a significant milestone as Professor Akande will be the first African to be nominated for this esteemed position.
According to His Majesty's Ambassador to the Netherlands, Joanna Roper CMG, who made the announcement, said Professor Akande's will be the first African to be nominated.
The Yoruba Times was also informed that Professor Dapo Akande is an exceptional international lawyer, poised to bring profound legal expertise and experience to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
His nomination embodies the United Kingdom's steadfast commitment to upholding international justice, human rights, and the rule of law.
As the HM Ambassador to the Netherlands, Joanna Roper CMG represents the UK Government at various international organizations, including the ICJ.
Professor Akande is a distinguished British-Nigerian academic and lawyer, currently serving as the Chichele Professor of Public International Law at the University of Oxford. He is also a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, and co-director of the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law, and Armed Conflict (ELAC).
Notably, Professor Akande was the first Black professor to be honored with a portrait at St Peter's College, Oxford. He is also a founding editor of EJIL:Talk!, the scholarly blog of the European Journal of International Law.
Professor Akande's academic credentials include a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Obafemi Awolowo University (1992), qualification as a barrister and solicitor from the Nigerian Law School (1993), a Master of Laws (LLM) from the London School of Economics and Political Science (1994), and a Master of Arts (MA) by resolution from the University of Oxford (2004).
Source: YorubaTimes
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Blogger cutie Julls accuse Billionaire actress, Funke Akindele of yanshing married colleague n friend , Femi Adebayo
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Olori Ashley replies naysayers, maintains that a son is a CROWN Prince of the source
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Happy birthday to Nollywood actress, Eniola Badmus aka Gbogbo bigz girl. …..
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Kokozaria Remanded In Prison for assautng actor Baba Lawori
A Lagos Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday remanded a chieftain of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Ganiyu Oyedepo (aka Kokozaria), in prison custody for assaulting an actor, Alhaji Ade Adele (aka Baba Lawori).
Chief Magistrate remanded Kokozaria, after he pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him by the operatives of the Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (FCIID).
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Toyin Abraham reached out to Prophet Akogun Ff his prophesy of an impending marital crisis
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