The family of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, known as Mohbad, has formally requested that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Police Service Commission replace the current police team investigating his death. The family claims the investigation by the Lagos State Police Command has been poorly handled and raised serious doubts about the professionalism and integrity of the officers involved.
Taiwo Odumosu, the head of the family’s legal team, expressed these concerns in a statement sent to PUNCH Metro on Thursday. According to Odumosu, the manner in which the investigation has been conducted is troubling and has shown several lapses.
One of the primary concerns raised was that the crime scene was not secured properly. “Upon the initial report of Mohbad’s death to the Police, the crime scene was not cordoned off, a fundamental step in preserving critical evidence,” the statement reads.
He stated, “Upon the initial report of Mohbad’s death to the Police, the crime scene was not cordoned off, a fundamental step in preserving critical evidence. This oversight is a severe lapse in protocol and undermines the investigation’s credibility. By failing to secure the scene, the police allowed potential evidence to be contaminated or destroyed, significantly hampering any efforts to uncover the truth behind this tragic incident.
“There is evidence that Ilerioluwa Oladimeji installed CCTV in his apartment and it was functional. However, upon the incident of his death, the DVR of the newly installed and functioning CCTV was removed. Yet the professional investigators saw nothing wrong in such and kept mute about it.”
The family further alleged that police officers ignored important testimonies and evidence presented during the Coroner Court’s proceedings, including reports of an altercation at Mohbad’s home before his death. Odumosu also highlighted the lack of a forensic examination, the potential mishandling of evidence, and the unexplained absence of Mohbad’s phones, which could provide vital information about the events leading to his death.
“Again, the scene of the crime which should have been sealed off by the police to preserve evidence was inexplicably left open. This lack of security in the scene is unimaginable and highly unprofessional. It compromises the integrity of potential evidence and undermines the investigation. The selective presentation of evidence and the lack of action on crucial testimonies raise serious concerns about a potential cover-up.
“It is imperative to question who the officers might be protecting, on whose instruction, and why such a high-profile case is being handled with such apparent disregard for standard investigative procedures.
“His lawyer was said to be present at his residence even when Mohbad’s parents were not yet told Mohbad was dead at the material time.
“Who invited him? What did he come to do at such a dark period of the day? He was not invited for questioning. The presence of a medical doctor would have raised no query but a lawyer’s presence at such an inauspicious time is surely telling,” the statement further disclosed.
“These investigators should conduct a comprehensive and unbiased investigation, considering all available evidence and testimonies. Bring all police officers involved to justice.
“All the policemen right from the Police Post at Lekki to the present investigating officers should be investigated, their bank accounts scrutinised and other issues to ensure that the officers are brought to justice,” the statement added.
Reacting, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said, “Since it is a petition before the IG as you claimed, we await his position on that before we know what to do,”
