By Sheriff Folarin

In the English legal system, which Nigeria inherited, everyone is innocent on a matter until proven guilty. The reverse is the case for the French system of old: you are guilty until proven innocent. It still subsists in parts. As far as this complicated case of the demise of that rising superstar, Imole or Ilerioluwa Aloba (Mohbad), is concerned, the best approach should be that every single character connected to this case should be treated as guilty until a fair and thorough investigation proves them innocent. This epistle is a product of my overthinking on the matter these past three days. If you can, read along.

The apparently confused or timid father always looks detached emotionally from the tragic passing of his celebrity son. He’s the devil’s advocate, exonerating his son’s bullies and traducers of any wrongdoing. He was in a hurry to bury Moh, initially seeking to put him six feet under just six hours after the reported demise of his son. He has lies and inconsistencies laced in his submissions and accounts, too quick to start talking about his son’s property and the parlous state of his house. He seems to enjoy the media attention after Moh’s passing and maximise it to his advantage. He was unconcerned about the manner of the interment, with a long body frame squeezed into an undersized body box. Concrete was immediately used to complete the new “home” of such a promising star. What evidence was the dad trying to conceal? Who was using a remote control on him? He’s a white garment pastor; could he have had a “prophecy” that his son would go and that he should bury him quickly to ward off evil spirits? Or could he have used him for some African power or money rituals? What was he doing with Naira Marley in a video in which he appeared servile and intimidated, standing in fear while the small-boy Marley in a sleeping position was grandstanding toward Mr Aloba? The dad might be innocent, yet he might be complicit in his own son’s demise. This man must be drilled properly to give the investigators the much-needed information they need and the compass to get those complicit in Moh’s death.

In Moh’s song, “Sorry”, he sings: “10 years, I no see mummy…Stepmother don’t care…” This was a non-resident mother, who allegedly left her husband and two children 15 years ago. Moh did not see her for 10 years. No mother figure for 10-15 years in the life of a child. There was no mother to provide those moral lessons and safety nets for the children. She simply disappeared and left the children motherless. Why she abandoned them is not disclosed yet, but it could have been irreconcilable differences with her husband or because the man was poor and she moved on with a more promising shot. Moh’s mum could not have been one of the accomplices in a murder, but she killed him 15 years earlier as she denied him of that motherly love and care that would keep a child out of the wrong paths.

Speculations that she probably committed adultery against her husband and has that child for the prime suspect, Sam Larry, are not what I wish to buy. However, nowadays, nothing is impossible. We have seen so many cases lately of DNA tests that returned with verdicts that have shattered so many so-called fathers. Could she kill or be part of a plot to kill Moh in order to conceal the paternity of the child? I do not want to think about it. However, if the police do their job properly, she could offer some important information. At this moment, she is suffering a lot and caution is the word as far as she is concerned.

In the week of his demise, three guys went live with the body of Moh in a car as they took him away from the hospital and started shouting that Moh was dead. As they filmed on and it appeared like Moh suddenly moved his arm and head, they abruptly ended the live video. We are not sure if it was the car’s movement that shook the parts of the body, but one is curious why they abruptly ended that video as this happened. These are prime suspects and should have been in police custody. Who were those guys? Why would a dead person be taken out of an hospital and taken toward his parents’ house in Ikorodu? Hospitals are places dead persons are certified and officially transferred to the morgue. Did the boys get a certificate to confirm Moh’s death before rushing his body to God-knows-where? Or was one or all of them mortuary attendants? Who requested them to take the body away? Have their phones been checked or their networks been contacted for screening of messages, calls and so on? Were they not the same guys that came during the exhuming of the body and filmed, shouting, “see Mohbad’s body. Omooo, he’s stinking already…” Why would these prime suspects be allowed to go so close to the body again? Was the police not supposed to keep everyone except coroner specialists and grave diggers out of the graveside up till conveyance of remains to the forensic centre?

They have been a bully for sometime, with clips and tapes of intimidation, harassment, threats to life, and real-time bragging to exterminate Moh (either from the entertainment industry or from the earth). Marley had dehumanised Moh’s dad in a viral video, talking to him like Moh’s dad’s boss. These duo seem to be the two masqueraders behind Mr Aloba (Moh’s dad’s) unsettled demeanour and queer acts for the past week. The flight of Sam Larry few days after accusing fingers at him further makes him culpable. Marley’s initial video seemingly showing nonchalance on the demise of Moh before the 180 degree turn comes across as celebrating a victory. Sam Larry’s leaked audio few hours after Moh’s burial in which he said “otiwani mortuary, no case” (he’s now in the morgue, no case, which also means no evidence) couldn’t have better provided a lead on who Moh’s possible assailants are.

What was the injection for? What’s the name of the injection? What are the side effects, if they are regular injections? Who certified Moh dead? Was there a certificate issued? Who authorised the evacuation of Moh’s body from the hospital? What calls or messages transpired in the cause of all this medical concern and within a space of 1-2 hours?

There are many others to investigate: Moh’s friends’ circle, Marley’s gang of criminals and drug addicts, the in-laws of Mohbad, Moh’s stepmother, Aunty Nurse, Medical Director of the hospital, and those who were physically close to him during his last performance in Ikorodu before he landed at the hospital. With the help of MTN, Airtel, Glo, etc., all phone conversations and calls should be traced and obtained even if they have been deleted from devices by the suspects. All bank accounts should be screened and transactions of these protagonists, tracked.

Let’s get to root of the matter, not only for Moh to find peace, but also for justice for all those pained by his death. And of course, for the anticipated landmark findings to chart a new course in Nigeria’s criminal and legal systems.

Folarin is a Texas-based Nigerian professor of International Relations and African Studies

In this article