The Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has dismissed a suit filed by Mr Joseph Aloba, father of the late singer Mohbad, seeking to nullify the legal advice issued by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) that led to the release of music executive Naira Marley, socialite Sam Larry, and others.

In a judgement delivered on Wednesday, Justice Taiwo Olatokun ruled that the Attorney General’s powers—exercised through the DPP—were constitutionally valid and could not be challenged in this instance. She consequently dismissed all the reliefs sought by Mr Aloba.

Mr Aloba, who was present in court alongside supporters, expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome. However, his legal counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Wahab Shittu, announced plans to file an appeal.

The application, filed on behalf of the Aloba family, named the Lagos State Attorney General and the DPP as respondents. Mr Aloba argued that the DPP’s legal advice pre-empted the outcome of the ongoing Coroner’s inquest into Mohbad’s death and denied the family a fair hearing.

In their response, the DPP’s office contended that the individuals freed were not acquitted but merely discharged, pending further evidence. A legal officer in the DPP’s office, Ayinde Ibrahim, deposed that the legal advice was based on a thorough review of the case file—information neither the Coroner nor the applicant had access to.

The DPP concluded there was no evidence directly or indirectly linking Naira Marley, Sam Larry, Prime Boy, or Opere Babatunde to Mohbad’s death, which formed the basis for their release.