NDLEA Tackles Police on Mohbad’s Death, Says It Never Detained the Singer

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has debunked the claim by the Lagos State Police Command that it had not responded to an inquiry sent to it on the deceased singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad.
The Lagos State Police Command had told a news conference on Friday that the NDLEA had yet to confirm social media posts that it arrested and detained Mohbad on February 24, 2022.

The reports also claimed that Mohbad was given a substance to drink while in NDLEA detention.
But dismissing the police claims in Abuja, the Director of Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA, Mr. Femi Babafemi, stated that the anti-drug agency had responded to a police inquiry on September 28.

He stated that “to show the seriousness the NDLEA attached to the police inquiry, its formal response dated Thursday, September 28 was sent to Lagos by air; delivered and received by the police the same day.
“The summary of our response was that we also heard the unsubstantiated allegation on social media that the NDLEA arrested and detained Mohbad on February 24, 2022, and he was given a substance to drink.
“In response to the allegation, we state categorically that Mohbad was neither arrested nor ever detained in the custody of the NDLEA on the said date or any other date before or after.

“The foregoing being the case, the issue of giving him any substance to drink does not arise.’’
Babafemi attached an acknowledged copy of NDLEA’s response to his press statement, showing that the police received it in Lagos on September 28.
Mohbad (27) died in controversial circumstances on September12 and was buried on September 13.

However, following the controversy surrounding his death and a public outcry, his corpse was exhumed on September 21 for autopsy.
Many fans and celebrities in some states took to the streets in protests following the singer’s death.
They demanded that justice be done as they suspected that there was more to Mohbad’s death than met the eye.
Police have since arrested Mohbad’s music promoter, Balogun Eletu, aka ‘Sam Larry’ and Azeez Fashola, aka Naira Marley; over multiple face-offs they had with Mohbad before the deceased parted ways with Marlian Records.

Marlian Records is owned by musician, songwriter, and music promoter, Naira Marley.
Also in police detention over Mohbad’s death is his close associate, Owodunni Ibrahim popularly known as “Primeboy.’’