Entertainment

Mohbad’s father asks court to quash advice freeing Naira Marley, Sam Larry, others

Aloba Joseph, the father of late Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has filed an application before the Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja seeking a judicial review of the legal advice issued by the office of the State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

The application, which was filed on March 12, is brought ex-parte pursuant to Order 44 Rule 3 of the High Court of Lagos (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019, Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

Through his lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Wahab Shittu, Mohbad’s father is seeking the quashing of the DPP’s legal advice in respect of the murder of his son.

Mr. Aloba, who is suing for himself and on behalf of the Aloba family, joined the Attorney General of Lagos and the DPP as respondents in the suit.

The applicant wants the court to quash the DPP’s advice as a result of a lack of fair hearing, pre-emption of the Coroner’s inquest—which is yet to conclude sitting—and because the vital suspects mentioned and implicated in the Coroner’s proceedings have been freed by the DPP’s legal advice.

In documents put before the court in support of the application, Mohbad’s father states that, by virtue of his position, he is well seized of the facts in the case.

He states, “That the death of late ILERIOLUWA OLADIMEJI ALOBA aka MOHBAD on the 11th of September 2025 was viewed as unnatural and suspicious, which led to him petitioning and demanding an inquest into the cause of death.”

“That pursuant to the applicant’s request to determine the circumstances leading to death, the inquest was referred to the Coroner’s Court, which commenced sitting on September 23, 2023, and which is yet to conclude sitting.”

“That while the proceeding is yet to be concluded by the Coroner’s Court, Magistrate Ejiro Kubenje, sitting at the Yaba Magistrate Court on the 26th of February 2025 and acting on the legal advice of the respondents, discharged and acquitted the 4 prime suspects—Abdul Azeez Fashola aka Naira Marley, Samson Balogun Eletu aka Sam Larry, Owodunni Ibrahim aka Prime Boy, and Opere Babatunde—in the controversial death of late Mohbad.”

“That the applicants became aware of the legal advice at the Magistrate Court when the suspects were being discharged and acquitted by the court.”

“That those discharged and acquitted suspects by the respondents pursuant to their legal advice have been mentioned and implicated in the coroner’s proceedings and have been summoned and are yet to appear and give evidence as to their role in the death of late Mohbad.”

“That the Police, through one ASP Mohammed Yusuf attached to the Homicide Section, State CID Panti, and the respondents through their Senior Counsel, Mr. George, participated in the Coroner’s proceedings. The State CID Panti forwarded the case containing their investigation to the respondents without informing the Coroner’s Court, and while both offices, particularly the respondents, were aware of the Coroner’s inquest, they proceeded to issue legal advice, which prompted the Magistrate Court to discharge and acquit the prime suspects in the controversial death of late Mohbad.”

“That I know as a fact that the act or omission of the respondents is without due regard to the Coroner’s Court, which constitutes an obstruction of the Coroner in the exercise of its statutory duties.”

“That I know as a fact that the respondents’ failure to allow the Coroner to conclude its proceeding and proceeding to issue the legal advice is pre-empting the outcome of the decision of the Coroner and is done without jurisdiction and is null and void.”

“That I know as a fact that the act or omission of the respondents issuing legal advice in respect of the matter upon which an inquest is being conducted amounts to obstructing and interfering with the Coroner’s investigation and potentially influencing the outcome.”

“That I know as a fact that the act or omission of the respondents’ legal advice, which constitutes an affront to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Coroner, is an overreach into the Coroner’s power to conduct inquests into suspicious and unnatural deaths, which are expected to run their course without external interference.”

“That I know as a fact that the act or omission of the respondents, apart from being pre-emptive of the Coroner’s proceedings, undermines the integrity of the inquest and potentially compromises the outcome of the Coroner’s investigation.”

“That I know as a fact that the act or omissions of the respondents while aware that the Coroner’s inquest is still pending, is to overreach the outcome of the inquest, which is improper.”

“That the applicant needs the intervention of this Honourable Court to get justice for the death of his son. Otherwise, allowing the legal advice from the respondents to stand may automatically put an end to the seriousness of the Coroner’s Court and its proceedings.”

“That the grant of this application will not be prejudicial to the respondents.”

No judge has been assigned to hear the application, and no date has been fixed for its hearing.

Entertainment

We can not continue like this – AGN president reacts to death of Nollywood actors poisoned on movie set

The president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Emeka Rollas, has reacted to the death of two unidentified Nollywood actors who were poisoned on a movie set in Owerri, the state capital.

Nollywood actor Stanley OnTop, in a post via his Instagram page on Friday, revealed that four actors were rushed to the Federal University Teaching Hospital Owerri, and two were pronounced dead on arrival.

He said the two deceased persons and other crew members ate rice and drank wine provided by the unnamed movie director after shooting a movie.

Reacting, the president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) shared an update on Instagram on Sunday, stating that the actors in question were not members of the Guild. He expressed concern over the increasing number of unlicensed filmmakers in the country.

He also urged all actors and actresses to get ready for the annual prayer gatherings aimed at preventing deaths in the industry.

He wrote: “So sad some actors who are not members of Actors Guild just lost their lives while filming in Owerri. We have repeatedly warned that Actors must join the Guild to practice in Nollywood..

“Barely a week after the memorial service of our member Late JNR Pope, tragedy struck in Owerri involving two promising young actors.

“They are not members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria but this points to two things:

“1. The devil still wants this pattern of mass death repeated on an annual basis. If not for God the death toll in Owerri could have been four persons. Exactly the same number last year in Asaba. Please let all Actors and indeed Nollywood prepare for this year’s prayer outingwith @realjerryeze @streamsofjoyabuja

“2. We cannot continue like this. Everywhere in the country people just wake up and equip themselves with cameras and they have become Nollywood

“This is a bad trend. These people camp themselves in an unhealthy, unverified environment making content. Content creators have to be licensed.”

Entertainment

Burna Boy gifts Portable ₦20m for defeating Speed Darlington in boxing match

Grammy Award-winning artiste Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, has gifted N20 million to controversial singer Habeeb Okikiola, also known as Portable, following his victory over Speed Darlington in their celebrity boxing match.

Portable confirmed the generous gift in a post shared on Instagram on Saturday.

“₦20 million from Burna Boy. If you wanna be like Odogwu, can you do like Odogwu? God bless your family,” Portable wrote.

Portable has been celebrating his win over rival Darlington Okoye, a.k.a. Speed Darlington, who has blamed his defeat in Saturday’s celebrity boxing clash on Portable’s alleged use of “juju” (charms).

Portable took to Instagram on Saturday to revel in his triumph at the Chaos in the Ring event, sanctioned by the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control and held at the Balmoral Convention Centre in Lagos. He posted: “Champion forever. I believe in those who believe in me. Na God dey run am. Orilomo.”

Later that day, he shared another celebratory message on his Instagram story, writing: “Joy full my body, money don land.”It is worth noting that Burna Boy and Speed Darlington have had a tense relationship.

In 2024, Speed Darlington accused Burna Boy of allegedly having an inappropriate connection with American rapper Diddy to secure his Grammy win.

Following that, Speed Darlington was arrested over allegations of defamation and cyberstalking against Burna Boy.

Entertainment

Priscilla Ojo, Juma Jux say ‘I do’ in elegant wedding in Lagos

Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo’s daughter, Priscilla, and Tanzanian singer Juma Mkambala, popularly known as Juma Jux, tied the knot in an outdoor white wedding ceremony on Saturday.

Videos circulating on social media showcase Juma Jux’s grand entrance and the touching moment Priscilla walked down the aisle with her father. The couple’s exchange of vows, met with cheers from elegantly dressed guests, was another highlight of the event.

The colorful event began with a star-studded traditional wedding held on Friday in Lagos State. Just a week earlier, Priscilla and Juma captivated the internet with five stunning pre-wedding portraits, describing their love story as “two hearts united as one soul, on a mission to forever.”

Earlier in February, the first phase of the wedding was held in Tanzania where Priscilla tied the knot with Juma Jux, in a traditional ceremony in line with the groom’s customs.

This was followed by Juma’s second proposal to Priscilla before her “family and dearest friends and with a ring twice the size.”

They also had a civil wedding in Tanzania before heading over to Nigeria for the second phase of the celebration.