Joseph Aloba challenges court ruling that upheld legal clearance of Naira Marley, Sam Larry in son’s death.
Joseph Aloba, father of the late Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has filed an appeal challenging the decision of an Ikeja High Court which upheld the legal clearance of music figures Naira Marley, Sam Larry, and others in connection to his son's death.
The court, presided over by Justice Taiwo Olatokun, on July 2, 2025, dismissed Aloba’s request to nullify the legal advice issued by the Lagos State Attorney General through the Director of Public Prosecut
.jpg)
ions (DPP), which had absolved the accused parties. The judge ruled that the Attorney General's powers, as enshrined in the constitution, were lawfully exercised and not subject to judicial review in this instance.
In response, Aloba, through his lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Wahab Shittu, is urging the Court of Appeal to quash the legal advice. He is asking for a certiorari order to remove the DPP’s advice from record and to allow his appeal against the earlier ruling.
The appeal argues that the trial judge erred by declaring the Attorney General's prosecutorial powers under Section 211(1) of the 1999 Constitution as absolute and beyond judicial scrutiny. Shittu maintained that the AG is constitutionally bound to act in the public interest, uphold justice, and prevent abuse of legal process.
The appellant further argued that issuing legal advice while a coroner’s inquest into the cause of Mohbad’s death is still ongoing not only undermines justice but also represents a misuse of judicial authority.