The Coroner’s Court docket sitting in Ikorodu, Lagos, has really useful the felony prosecution of auxiliary nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe for her function within the sudden demise of Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly referred to as Mohbad.
Justice of the Peace Adedayo Shotobi, who delivered the ruling on Friday, held that the nurse acted with “gross negligence” by administering an injection and not using a physician’s prescription, in the end resulting in the artist’s sudden dying. Whereas ruling out murder or foul play, the courtroom pressured that the act was “illegal and professionally negligent.”
The ruling adopted a months-long inquest launched by the Lagos State Authorities on September 29, 2023, in response to intense public outcry. Nineteen witnesses gave testimony throughout the listening to.
Nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe
Justice of the Peace Shotobi acknowledged that proof confirmed the singer died inside hours of receiving the injection at his Lekki residence, including that there was no proof of pure causes, however quite a transparent case of unauthorised medical observe.
“In pursuance of Part 29 of the Coroner Legal guidelines of Lagos State, this courtroom recommends that the Workplace of the Director of Public Prosecution start prosecution in opposition to Felicia Ogedengbe for illegal medical observe and gross negligence,” the coroner dominated.
Baba Mohbad
Past the nurse’s function, the courtroom additionally known as consideration to systemic failures and a number of lapses within the occasions that adopted the singer’s dying. The Justice of the Peace criticised the singer’s father, Joseph Aloba, for conducting a “hasty and undignified” burial with out acquiring a dying certificates, medical report, or police clearance.
“Although cultural beliefs might have influenced his actions, they obstructed forensic investigations and delayed justice,” she stated, including that Mr. Aloba’s later public statements lacked supporting proof and compromised his credibility.
Negligence on Wunmi’s half
Mohbad’s accomplice, Omowunmi, was additionally faulted for failing to insist on emergency providers or demand accountability on the level of dying and burial. Regardless of dwelling with the late singer and being the mom of his youngster, the courtroom noticed that her “assertive response solely emerged after public outrage.”
Whereas acknowledging that she might have been emotionally overwhelmed, the courtroom famous that “because the final particular person with the deceased, extra protecting and accountable motion was anticipated.”
Police’s inaction after Mohbad’s petition in opposition to Sam Larry
The courtroom additional ordered a proper investigation into the Nigeria Police’s inaction over a petition filed by Mohbad earlier than his dying, noting that their failure to behave would possibly quantity to official negligence. The Human Rights Fee was additionally urged to research allegations of harassment and intimidation involving safety forces and music trade figures.
Bullying Allegations: Sam Larry, Naira Marley
Whereas the courtroom dominated out direct foul play or murder, it confirmed that Mohbad suffered vital psychological trauma earlier than his dying, linked to repeated bullying and harassment from people, together with music government Naira Marley and present promoter Sam Larry. Nevertheless, it discovered no direct causal hyperlink between their actions and his precise demise.
Conclusion
The Justice of the Peace additional indicted all these near Mohbad, stating that everybody round him failed him, together with his household, mates, the Nigeria Police Power, and the broader music trade. The courtroom stated that these events contributed to an unsafe atmosphere for the late singer, significantly throughout his closing days.
Mohbad died on September 12, 2023, after reportedly sustaining an harm and receiving remedy at house. He was buried the next day. Amid public calls for for readability, his physique was exhumed on September 21 for post-mortem, although the primary examination was inconclusive attributable to organ decomposition. A second post-mortem was later commissioned.
Reacting to the coroner’s findings, Wahab Shittu, SAN, counsel to Mohbad’s household, expressed satisfaction, commending the Justice of the Peace’s depth and equity. “That is one coroner who has the mind, steadiness, and conscience,” he stated.
Counsel to Mohbad’s accomplice, Kabir Akingbolu, additionally welcomed the suggestions however clarified that Omowunmi shouldn’t be blamed for failing to cease the burial, stressing that the scenario was past her management.
With the coroner’s suggestions now public, stress mounts on authorities to take swift authorized motion.
