Joseph Aloba, the father of the late Afrobeat singer Ilerioluwa Promise Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has opened up about his relationship with his son and why he wears his son's clothes. In a recent interview with blogger Kachiwire, Joseph described his late son as a "friend with whom he shared things in common".
Mohbad tragically passed away on September 12, 2023, and was laid to rest the following day. The owner of his former record label, Marlian Records, Azeez Fashola, also known as Naira Marley, along with several others including Sam Larry, were implicated in his death. However, both Naira Marley and Sam Larry denied any involvement and were subsequently arrested, arraigned, and later released on bail. A nurse who administered injections to Mohbad was identified as the prime suspect.
In response to the public outcry, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, ordered a forensic investigation to determine the cause of death. Following the IGP's directive, the Lagos State Police Command established a 10-man team, including a pathologist, to exhume Mohbad's corpse and investigate his death.
In November 2023, the Lagos Coroner Court, located at Ita-Elewa, Ikorodu, announced that the most crucial part of the autopsy to determine the cause of the late singer's death was being conducted in the United States. The state counsel, O. Akinde, informed the Coroner Magistrate, Adetayo Shotobi, that the autopsy of the external body of the deceased had been completed. He added, "The toxicology test, which has to do with the internal body, is being done in the US."
There have been numerous calls for the release of the autopsy report since the investigation began. Amidst these developments, Joseph Aloba shared during the interview that he wears his son's clothes because "we are the same size". He said, "He is my son. I can wear his clothes. We are the same size. And anybody that has that kind of a son and cannot share with, that means that person does not love his son. So we are together."
Joseph fondly recalled a day when Mohbad bought him shoes for an introduction that led to his engagement. He said, "I could remember the day they wanted to go and do the introduction that led to his engagement. He bought me shoes and he said 'Daddy this is what you are going to wear' I said these shoes were bigger than mine and that I did not want this kind of bourgeois, he said 'this is exactly what I want you to do'."
He further expressed that Mohbad was not just his son, but also a friend. His current focus, he stated, is "justice for Mohbad". He concluded, "So all those rubbish questions, I do not want to answer questions like that. He is my son. People can say whatever they like."