The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has refuted the Nigeria Police over claim that it had not responded to an enquiry sent to it on deceased singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad.
Amid controversy surrounding his death, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, on Friday, told a news conference that the NDLEA had yet to confirm social media posts that it arrested and detained Mohbad on Feb. 24, 2022.
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The inquiry came amid a social media post which alleged that Mohbad was allegedly injected with a substance while in NDLEA detention.
Dismissing police claim on Saturday, in Abuja, Director, Media and Advocacy at the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, said the anti-drug agency responded to police enquiry since Sept. 28.
“To show the seriousness the NDLEA attached to the police enquiry, its formal response dated Thursday, Sept. 28 was sent to Lagos by air; delivered and received by the police 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 Feb. 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 said as he attached an acknowledged copy of NDLEA’s response to his press statement, showing that the police received it in Lagos on Sept 28.
Mohbad died in controversial circumstances on Sept.12 and was buried on Sept. 13, but his corpse was exhumed on Sept 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’’. (NAN)