Lagos State government is preparing to begin the trial into the death of rapper Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, about a year after his passing.
Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), made this announcement during a press briefing held at the ministry’s conference room in Alausa, Ikeja, ahead of a strategic stakeholders’ meeting and to mark his first year in office.
Pedro confirmed that the investigation into Mohbad’s death is nearing completion, and the trial will begin soon to identify those responsible for his death.
When asked about the delay, he explained that it was due to the lengthy investigation process, particularly the forensic analysis that had to be conducted in the United States.
According to him, this was necessary because the Lagos DNA and Forensic Centre was destroyed during the #EndSARS protests in 2020.
Pedro also confirmed that the toxicology report and other forensic evidence have been received from the US and are now with the Lagos State Pathologist and the Coroner.
He emphasized the importance of thorough investigations to avoid rushing to trial without sufficient evidence, stating that the goal is to secure a conviction, not just take the case to court quickly.
Pedro stated that while Mohbad’s family has requested an independent forensic analysis, this should not hinder the legal process now that the report is available.
He assured that legal advice on the case should be ready soon, and those responsible will be prosecuted based on the available evidence.
He noted that if the forensic lab in Lagos hadn’t been destroyed, the case might have been resolved earlier, and it’s expensive to conduct such tests abroad.
Pedro said, “On Mohbad’s case, I agree there has been a delay and the delay is borne out of time taken for investigation.
“Forensic analysis, toxicology, all this are part of the investigation. And I think what we should learn is that as far as criminal offences are concerned, there is no status of limitation.
“So, it is better to have a complete full-proof investigation that can lead, at least, to a conviction of a case that is presented before a court, than to hush-hush and rush to court.
“It is the same people, complaining about the delay that will be the same people to say the man was brought to court after one week, was discharged, and acquitted just because the investigation had not been concluded.
“If the investigation has not been concluded, it is better for us to be patient.
“But, I can tell you, the toxicology report from the United States has been received for long now. And is with the coroner. We also have a copy.
“But I understand that the family members of Mohbad have also requested the coroner to hold on, that they also wanted to conduct their independent forensic analysis.
“However, this should not stop us now that the report is out. I am very sure if the legal advice was not out last week, it should be out this week. And those to be prosecuted will be prosecuted based on available evidence.
“That’s the position about Mogbad’s case, it’s not a deliberate delay.
“Had the Lagos Forensic Laboratory on the Island not been destroyed during the EndSARS protest, the case would have ended by now.
“We would not have had cause to send the report outside the country for analysis because we had the facility here then.
“It is not cheap to do such analysis. In the US, it runs into thousands of dollars to get it done.
“As for Mohbad’s case, as far as we are concerned, justice would be done.”
KanyiDaily recalls that Mohbad recently rejected the autopsy results conducted on him and is calling for an independent post-mortem and toxicology test.
