Mohbad: Court Dismisses Fresh Bid to Reopen Investigation Into Singer’s Death

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking to compel the Nigeria Police Force to reopen its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.

Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment delivered on Thursday, September 24, 2026, dismissed the case filed by the Registered Trustees of Break the Silence Foundation, holding that the organisation lacked the legal standing to institute the action and had failed to provide credible evidence to establish that the earlier police investigation was inadequate.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/363/2026, was filed against the Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command.

The foundation had approached the court through an application for judicial review, seeking an order of mandamus compelling the police authorities to conduct a fresh investigation into Mohbad’s death.

The organisation argued that the earlier police investigation had not sufficiently examined important aspects of the case and that some people connected to the singer, including individuals reportedly among those who last saw him, had not been adequately investigated.

The foundation particularly questioned whether some of Mohbad’s relatives had been properly investigated and argued that the circumstances surrounding his death warranted a fresh probe.

The court had earlier granted the foundation leave to commence the judicial-review proceedings. The matter was later heard after the organisation presented its case and urged the court to compel the police to reopen the investigation.

However, Justice Omotosho found that the foundation had not provided the evidence required to support its central claim.

A major issue was the original police investigation report.

The judge noted that the foundation alleged that the earlier police investigation was inadequate and that certain people, including Mohbad’s wife and father, had not been investigated. But the organisation did not attach the report from that earlier investigation to demonstrate what the police had actually done.

According to the court, without the original investigation report, there was no evidence establishing whether the people identified by the foundation had been investigated or excluded from the probe.

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Justice Omotosho therefore held that the claims were speculative and based on conjecture, rather than supported by evidence. He stressed that an applicant seeking judicial relief could not succeed merely through assertions without proof.

The court consequently found that the foundation’s case failed on its evidentiary basis and was without merit.

The second major legal ground was locus standi.

In legal terms, locus standi concerns whether a person or organisation has the necessary legal standing or sufficient interest to bring a particular action before the court. Justice Omotosho held that the foundation had not established the legal basis required to sustain the suit.

The court therefore dismissed the case on both grounds — lack of locus standi and lack of merit.

The ruling is important because the court was not deciding, in this particular suit, whether every question surrounding Mohbad’s death had been conclusively answered. Rather, it was determining whether the foundation had established the legal and evidentiary basis for an order compelling the police to reopen the investigation.

The judge also criticised lawyers involved in the case for discussing pending proceedings through media interviews and social media.

Justice Omotosho warned legal practitioners against using the media to air grievances or discuss matters that were still before the court, stressing that lawyers should present their arguments through the judicial process. He further warned that the court could invoke its contempt powers if its orders were breached through such conduct.

The judgment came after the court had earlier fixed September 29, 2026, for judgment following final arguments in June. Justice Omotosho ultimately delivered the judgment five days earlier, on September 24.

The foundation had filed the case after expressing dissatisfaction with the outcome of the earlier investigation. Its counsel, Chief Tunde Falola, had argued that critical aspects of the case and possible leads were not adequately explored and that individuals reportedly among the last people to see Mohbad required further scrutiny.

Mohbad died in Lagos on September 12, 2023, at the age of 27, triggering widespread public concern and calls for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

He was buried shortly after his death, but his remains were later exhumed for an autopsy amid public pressure for answers. The controversy surrounding the circumstances of his death has continued through investigations, court proceedings and public debate.

The latest ruling does not amount to a judicial declaration that all factual questions surrounding Mohbad’s death have been resolved. It means that the Break the Silence Foundation failed in this particular legal action to establish the standing and evidentiary basis required to obtain an order compelling the police to conduct a fresh investigation.

The Federal High Court has therefore declined to grant the foundation’s request for a fresh police probe, leaving the organisation without the judicial order it sought in the case.

Mohbad: Court Dismisses Fresh Bid to Reopen Investigation Into Singer’s Death

Appeal Court Upholds Two-Year Jail Term for Ex-UNICAL Dean Ndifon

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has upheld the conviction and two-year prison sentence imposed on former University of Calabar (UNICAL) Faculty of Law Dean, Professor Cyril Osim Ndifon, over the solicitation of pornographic, indecent and obscene photographs from a female student.

The appellate court delivered its judgment on September 18, 2026, in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CR/1798/2025, affirming the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on the first count.

The first count was prosecuted under Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015. It alleged that Ndifon, while serving as Dean of the Faculty of Law at UNICAL, solicited pornographic, indecent and obscene photographs from a female student through electronic communication.

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court convicted Ndifon on November 17, 2025, after finding that the prosecution had established the offence beyond reasonable doubt. He sentenced the former dean to two years’ imprisonment without an option of fine on the first count.

The trial court also convicted Ndifon on a second count alleging that he conferred an undue advantage on himself, contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

He received a further five-year prison sentence without an option of fine on that count. The two sentences were ordered to run concurrently, meaning the trial court’s sentencing order provided for them to be served at the same time.

Ndifon subsequently appealed against his conviction and sentence.

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In its ruling, however, the Court of Appeal drew a distinction between the two counts.

The appellate court upheld the first conviction and its two-year sentence but held that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to try the second count under the ICPC Act.

It consequently ordered a fresh prosecution on the second count before the High Court of Cross River State.

The ruling does not amount to an acquittal on the second allegation. Instead, the appellate court’s jurisdictional finding means the second count is to be pursued afresh before the court specified in the judgment, subject to any further legal challenge.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has said it intends to challenge the Court of Appeal’s decision on the jurisdictional issue before the Supreme Court.

ICPC spokesperson J. Okor Odey said the commission considers the question arising from the second count to require further judicial determination.

The commission stressed that the ruling on the second count does not affect the appellate court’s affirmation of Ndifon’s conviction on the first count.

The prosecution’s case on the first count relied, among other evidence, on electronic communications between Ndifon and a female student. The Federal High Court considered testimony and electronic evidence before reaching its conviction, which has now been upheld on appeal.

The case arose from allegations concerning Ndifon’s conduct towards female students while he was Dean of the UNICAL Faculty of Law. He was removed from the position in 2023 following allegations of sexual harassment involving female students.

The latest ruling therefore leaves Ndifon’s two-year conviction on the first count intact, while the second count remains subject to fresh proceedings and the ICPC’s proposed further appeal.

Appeal Court Upholds Two-Year Jail Term for Ex-UNICAL Dean Ndifon

Viral Anti-Obi Video: Lagos Police Move Against Inspector Osumah Frank

The Lagos State Police Command has identified the officer featured in a viral video making political and ethnic remarks about Peter Obi and has commenced disciplinary action against him.

The officer was identified as Inspector Osumah Frank, according to a statement issued on Friday, September 25, by the command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi.

Frank was captured in police uniform while travelling in a public transport vehicle, where he made comments about Obi, the 2027 presidential election, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the possibility of an Igbo person becoming Nigeria’s president.

Reports on the video said the inspector expressed opposition to Obi’s political ambition and made remarks questioning whether an Igbo person could become president. He also discussed a possible Tinubu-Atiku contest and called for Obi to be excluded from the race.

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The video also contained a remark suggesting that money could be used to prevent a political candidate from assuming office even if the candidate won an election, according to reports based on the footage.

The Lagos Police Command described the comments as “careless, inappropriate and uncultured” and said disciplinary proceedings had commenced against Frank under established Nigeria Police Force regulations.

The command stressed that the inspector’s comments were made in his personal capacity and did not represent the official position of either the Lagos State Police Command or the Nigeria Police Force.

Lagos Commissioner of Police Tijani Fatai said police personnel were expected to maintain professionalism, civility, discipline and respect for members of the public, adding that wearing the police uniform carries a responsibility to protect the dignity and integrity of the Force.

The Command did not disclose the specific disciplinary sanction being considered against Frank.

Some subsequent reports described the inspector as having been arrested. However, the police statement cited by major outlets confirms the commencement of disciplinary action but does not specify an arrest. That distinction remains important until the Command provides further clarification.

The incident comes ahead of the 2027 Nigerian presidential election, in which Obi, Tinubu and Atiku are prominent political figures.

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