Justice James Omotosho fixed the date after hearing submissions in the case instituted by Break the Silence Foundation, a non-governmental organisation. The Inspector-General of Police, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, are listed as respondents in the suit.
When the matter came up for hearing on Tuesday, none of the respondents was represented in court.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Tunde Falola, adopted all court processes filed on behalf of the organisation and urged the court to grant the reliefs being sought.
The court also considered an application filed by Samson Obaboye, who sought to be joined as an interested party in the matter. Obaboye told the court that he supported efforts aimed at uncovering the truth behind Mohbad’s death and wanted an opportunity to present facts he considered relevant to the case.
However, Justice Omotosho dismissed the application, ruling that the applicant failed to demonstrate sufficient legal interest to justify his inclusion in the proceedings.
The court had previously granted leave to the plaintiff to commence the action through an ex parte application for judicial review and an order of mandamus directing the police authorities to carry out a fresh investigation into the circumstances surrounding the singer’s death.
Addressing journalists after the proceedings, Falola explained that the foundation approached the court because it was dissatisfied with the outcome of the initial police investigation, maintaining that certain critical issues and possible leads were not adequately examined.
He stated that the organisation remains concerned about some individuals reportedly among the last people seen with the late singer and believes their roles deserve closer scrutiny.
“The circumstances surrounding his death remain mysterious and deserve public attention,” he said.
“As a human rights organisation seeking justice, we believe the police should reopen the investigation,” Falola said, describing the suit as a mandamus proceeding aimed at compelling the police to revisit the investigation into the cause of Mohbad’s death.
Speaking on Obaboye’s failed application, Falola argued that the applicant had not shown any direct connection to the matter.
According to him, the applicant failed to establish that he was a police officer, a party in the case, or anyone directly linked to the proceedings.
He further maintained that allowing every Nigerian to join the suit without proving a legal interest would amount to an abuse of court process.
Mohbad died on September 12, 2023, a development that sparked nationwide outrage and calls for accountability over the circumstances of his death.
He was buried the following day, but his remains were exhumed on September 21, 2023, to enable an autopsy aimed at determining the cause of death.
Nearly three years after his passing, questions surrounding the case remain unresolved, delaying the final burial of his remains.
His father, Joseph Aloba, has repeatedly demanded justice and clarity over the events that led to the singer’s death.