Hope for Late Mohbad’s Fans as coroner inquest on his death begins

The inquest into the cause of Mohbad’s death began today,  the 27th of September, 2023.

A letter dated September 26, 2023, from the Lagos Chief Coroner conveyed the news of the upcoming inquest to human rights lawyer Mr. Femi Falana SAN.

The letter from the coroner magistrate, acting on behalf of the Chief Coroner, Justice M.A. Dada, outlined the details of the inquest, specifying that the proceedings would commence at 12 noon.

The proceedings are set to take place at the Magistrate Court 3, Candide Johnson Courthouse, Ita-Elewa, Ikorodu, Lagos. 

The directive is however a response to a letter from Mr. Femi Falana’s office, which alerted the Chief Coroner on the tragic death passing of Mohbad in Ikorodu.

This coroner inquest will bring about a significant development in the quest for clarity regarding Mohbad’s passing.

The primary purpose of the coroner’s inquest is to bring to light more details on the events leading up to Mohbad’s death. With his passing generating a lot of reactions and speculations, it is important to establish the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident.

This aims to provide answers and closure for the grieving family, as well as the public, who have been deeply affected by the loss of Mohbad.

Also, the House of Representatives has called upon the Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC) to develop strategies for safeguarding the music rights of the late singer Mohbad.

This decision came in response to a motion raised by Babajimi Benson, who emphasized the need to monitor the ongoing investigation into the cause of Mohbad’s death and protect his artistic legacy.

“Most of the proceeds of the late artist are still going to the Marlian Music Group, and there have been no moves from any agency to protect the Estate of the late singer who is currently the 46th best-selling digital artiste in the world,” he said.

Mohbad, who had previously been signed to Marlian Records owned by Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, left the label in 2022 due to various grievances, including unpaid royalties.

Despite being the 46th best-selling digital artist in the world, a significant portion of the late artist’s earnings continues to go to the Marlian Music Group, with no apparent efforts to protect his estate.

To address the concerns raised and protect the interests of music artists in Nigeria, the House of Representatives has directed the Committees on Justice and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance with the resolution.

These committees will play a crucial role in overseeing the implementation of measures to safeguard the rights and royalties of artists, preventing predatory practices by record labels.