Mohbad’s Death 2 Years Ago: How Long Does It Take to Get Justice in Nigeria? -By Ajiboye Amos Olakunle

The death of Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, remains one of the most discussed tragedies in Nigeria’s recent history. On September 12, 2023, the young music artist died under circumstances that immediately raised suspicion and grief across the country. His burial, which took place the very next day, added to public outrage. Many Nigerians questioned why such a hasty burial was allowed, given the uncertainties surrounding the cause of his death. What followed was not only a storm of protests and online campaigns demanding answers, but also a test of how long it really takes for justice to be served in Nigeria.

From the very beginning, the public’s demand for accountability clashed with the slow pace of Nigeria’s justice system. Under pressure, the police exhumed Mohbad’s body and ordered an autopsy, a move that raised hopes that answers would soon emerge. But as weeks turned into months, the questions remained: What killed him? Who was responsible? And would anyone face legal consequences?

The Nigerian legal system does, in theory, provide tools to unravel deaths that appear suspicious. In Lagos State, where Mohbad died, the Coroners’ System Law empowers coroners to order autopsies, summon witnesses, and issue findings on the cause of death. These inquests are meant to be swift fact-finding processes, ensuring that no suspicious death is ignored. But the Mohbad case highlighted just how fragile this system can be.

The quick burial complicated the autopsy process, forensic laboratories faced delays, there was no phone forensics and questions about the competence and readiness of the police loomed large.
Over the course of 2023 and 2024, several people connected to Mohbad’s final days were questioned by police, including the auxiliary nurse who administered injections to him before his death. Arrests were made, and some prominent figures in the entertainment industry were invited for questioning. Still, no clear charges emerged.

The case, already complicated by the lack of immediate forensic evidence, was further slowed by the bureaucratic machinery of police investigations and prosecutorial reviews.
By mid-2025, nearly two years after Mohbad’s death, the Lagos State coroner finally issued its findings. The report concluded that foul play was not established overall but pointed squarely at the auxiliary nurse, recommending her prosecution for alleged negligence. The coroner also criticized both the police for their inaction and Mohbad’s family for burying him so hastily, which undermined the possibility of a more conclusive investigation. The matter was referred to the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for further action. Yet even this stage is not the end: the DPP must still decide whether to bring charges, and if so, the matter will then go through Nigeria’s courts, a process that itself could take years before reaching a verdict.

Part of the abnormalities, while the corona inquest process was ongoing, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions(DPP) has already made their conclusions and sued the suspects they believed were responsible for the death of Mohbad, this totally undermine the efficiency of the corona inquest, to further add to this, the two hospitals confirmed that Mohbad was brought in dead, despite that, the police have not formerly arrested those in contact with Mohbad at the last moment of his life.

This timeline illustrates a broader reality. In Nigeria, getting justice is rarely swift. For cases that are straightforward, with clear evidence and witnesses, the system may deliver a trial within a year or two. But where death involves medical complexities, forensic uncertainties, or public controversy, the timeline stretches into years. The bottlenecks are numerous: limited forensic capacity, poor coordination between the police and prosecutors, cultural practices such as hurried burials that destroy evidence, and the endless adjournments that clog the courts.

The Mohbad case therefore represents more than one family’s grief. It is a mirror held up to a system that promises justice but struggles to deliver it promptly. The law is not absent, there are coroners’ courts, police investigative powers, and the authority of the DPP to prosecute. What is missing is speed, transparency, and institutional efficiency. Each delay erodes public confidence, fueling the perception that justice in Nigeria is not only slow but sometimes elusive.

If anything, the public outcry over Mohbad’s death underscores the urgent need for reform. Nigeria must invest in forensic laboratories to prevent long waits for toxicology and autopsy results. Coroner inquests should be time-bound, with clear deadlines for reports. Families should be sensitized to the importance of preserving bodies for investigation before burial. Most importantly, prosecutors and police must work with greater coordination, giving the public regular updates to avoid the vacuum in which rumors thrive.

Yes, many people believe the public can also participate to put pressure on the police to do their job by arresting those involved and getting justice served, however the police are the only body saddled with the responsibilities to investigate any criminal matter. Hence, despite the people’s effort, if the police is not cooperative, there is nothing that can be achieved.

So, how long does it take to get justice in Nigeria? The painful truth is that it depends. For Mohbad, nearly two years have already passed with no definitive closure, and the process is still ongoing. This should not be normal. Justice delayed is justice denied, and unless the Nigerian system embraces transparency, efficiency, and respect for the urgency of justice, the question will continue to haunt every case like Mohbad’s: not just if justice will come, but when.