Final Verdict On Mohbad’s Death Expected Soon As Coroner Wraps Up Inquest

The Coroner, Magistrate Adedayo Shotobi, who is overseeing the inquest into the death of late singer Mohbad, has stated that the date for delivering the final decision will be communicated to all parties involved.

This development occurred on Friday during a session at the Magistrates’ Court in Ikorodu, Lagos, where the last witness, forensic pathologist Dr. Uwom Eze, testified. Dr. Eze performed the second autopsy and conducted a medical review of Mohbad’s remains after public pressure led to an independent examination.

Under cross-examination by Abiodun Kolawole, representing the African Women Lawyers Association, Dr. Eze revealed that Mohbad was not found to be abusing hard drugs, contrary to widespread allegations. He stated that the singer had been given “regulated” doses of antihistamines and painkillers, medications typically used to treat allergies and manage pain, indicating that Mohbad had been experiencing considerable discomfort before his death.

However, Dr. Eze highlighted a critical gap: he could not determine how the injection that allegedly preceded Mohbad’s death was administered due to insufficient available information. He explained that during the autopsy, he examined an injury on the back of Mohbad’s right arm to check for potential deeper penetration that could have caused death, but found the wound to be superficial.

“Even a newborn baby won’t die from that injury. When I conducted the autopsy, the injury wasn’t even there, possibly due to post-mortem changes. I couldn’t tell how the injection was given because I had already lost (his) fluids,” Dr. Eze said.

Earlier in the inquest, Dr. Eze had stated that the cause of death could not be definitively determined due to the advanced stage of decomposition. However, he pointed to the likelihood of a “severe and rapid hypersensitivity reaction”—a strong allergic reaction—caused by a substance administered via injection.

Mohbad, whose real name was Ilerioluwa Aloba, died on September 12, 2023, shortly after sustaining an injury and being treated at his Lekki home. He reportedly developed convulsions after receiving an injection from a nurse and passed away soon after. He was buried the following day.

Dr. Eze also mentioned, when questioned by the family’s lead counsel Wahab Shittu (SAN), that the treatment given to the late singer by the nurse resembled a case of “medical misadventure.”

As the inquest draws to a close, the public and all parties involved await the coroner’s final decision, which is expected to address the remaining questions surrounding Mohbad’s tragic death.