According to the Lagos Annex, Force Criminal Investigation Department of the Nigerian Police Force, Zone 2, Alagbon, it invited music promoter Samson Balogun, aka Sam Larry, and others after receiving the petition filed on June 27 by the late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba aka Mohbad regarding, among other things, an alleged assault.
The federal police agency further reported that after Mohbad failed to appear to defend his case, a lawyer for Sam Larry and the other accused filed a counter-petition against the musician, charging defamation of character.
The late singer Mohbad failed to appear at the police station to adopt and defend his petition and also to provide proof of the allegations, to assist the police in prosecuting the suspects, if necessary, according to Oluniyi Ogundeyi, the Lagos Annex of the FCID spokesperson.
In a plea to the FCID Annex, Alagbon, Lagos State, the late singer claimed in a document that a music promoter named Samson Balogun, alias Sam Larry, and others had threatened his life, caused intentional damage, assaulted him, and subjected him to tyranny, among other things.
According to the petition filed on June 27, 2023, Sam Larry and 15 other armed individuals rushed the location of a film shoot where the dead and another artist, Omoniyi Temidayo alias Zlatan Ibile, were working and made threats to cause mayhem.
He said, “They ultimately assaulted him (Mohbad) and destroyed equipment worth over N5 million at the spot, just before he narrowly escaped with injuries.”
I, of the aforesaid name and address, a law-abiding citizen and musician, bring to your attention the assault and danger to my life by the aforementioned individuals.
“On June 25, 2023, while I was filming a video with another musician named Zlatan (Ibile, the aforementioned individuals, numbering around 15, led by Sam Larry Elegushi, entered the location with dangerous weapons like guns and cutlasses, disrupted the shooting process, damaged the equipment I was using for the shoot, which was worth about five million naira, and began threatening my life. As a result, they turned violent and attacked me.
“These photographs are attached to this petition. The entire sum of eight million naira (N8,000,000) that I paid for the shooting that they damaged is non-refundable.
“However, during the assault, they boasted that they work for Oba Elegushi and that they were sent to deal with me for reasons that are best known to them. To this day, they have continued to threaten to kill me if I am seen. In order to protect me from the aforementioned individuals and have them prosecuted, Sir, I kindly want your assistance.
“Sir, I call on your good office to preserve my life from the above listed persons and bring them to book,” the petition’s partial text said. I appreciate you getting involved right away.
The Police Public Relations Officer, FCID Annex, Lagos, Oluniyi Ogundeyi, responded when contacted by our correspondent on Thursday night regarding the recent development, saying that the police were unable to act on the petition because Mohbad refused to come forward and adopt, defend, and also provide evidence to support the claims he made.
“We got the petition, followed up on the data in the petition, and the suspects were invited,” Ogundeyi added. However, Mohbad declined to appear to present his case in court and offer any supporting documentation that may have helped the police conduct a thorough investigation and refer the case to the legal division for possible prosecution.
“It is correct that Mohbad reported the incident on June 27, 2023. I was seen the case file by the IPO today (Thursday), who confirmed this to me. According to the IPO, Sam Larry and the other petition-named suspects accepted invitations to be questioned and provided statements in addition to complying with the requests. The deceased, however, declined to adopt and defend his petition in person, and a lawyer for Sam Larry and the other accused filed a counterpetition accusing Mohbad of defaming them.
There was nothing the police could do if a petitioner refused to defend their petition and provide evidence to help the police in investigating the matter and forward the case file to the legal department if the suspect’s are found guilty. The police even attempted to contact Mohbad on numerous occasions, but he never showed up.
In a previous official statement titled “Mohbad’s Death: We Will Carry Out Diligent Investigation – FPRO,” the Force PRO, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, stated that the police were dedicated to a thorough investigation into the matter and that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police has been tasked to determine the circumstances surrounding his death.
We send our deepest sympathies to the mourning family, friends, and admirers of the recently deceased Mohbad, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, according to Adejobi. Regarding his premature passing, we can appreciate the worries.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police has been charged with determining the circumstances behind his death, and the Nigeria Police Force is dedicated to conducting a thorough investigation into this case. You may be sure that as investigations progress, updates will be given.
“We urge family members or close friends who may have important information to contact the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to aid in our investigation. We respectfully ask that people hold off on saying anything or taking any actions that could endanger the ongoing inquiry in the interim. We sincerely appreciate your confidence and assistance.
Sam Larry, a controversial socialite, has drawn criticism on social media, according to The PUNCH, when a video of him and several other people pestering the late singer Mohbad appeared online.
In the clip, Larry and a few boys barge onto the set of a music video where Mohbad and Zlatan are filming until Mohbad flees in terror. However, Zlatan fought Larry and his associates to prevent any abuse or mistreatment of Mohbad and attempted to salvage the situation.
Angered by the video, many Nigerians flocked to Larry’s Instagram page to bash him for threatening and abusing the late singer. Following the barrage of online abuse he’s been subjected to since the video surfaced, Larry, who is rumored to be Naira Marley’s ally, has since closed his Instagram account.
According to The PUNCH, 27-year-old Mohbad passed away on Tuesday. The management of Mohbad also issued a formal statement confirming his demise.
“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the loss of Promise Oladimeji Aloba PK/A Mohbad (Imole) today, September 12, 2023.
“Mohbad was a light till the very end, and as we mourn the loss of the brightness he carried, the family appreciates you for your love and prayers, and begs that you continue to respect their privacy at this trying time. Imole has at last found peace, stated the brief statement that was shared on both his Instagram and X accounts.
