While Nigeria celebrated its 63rd independence anniversary, I twice had the cause to rub minds with some of the brightest talents in the literary circle and creative space in the country.

One common theme to both events is the urgency of the time we are in and how we can no longer afford to take a laissez fairez attitude to the Nigerian entertainment industry, particularly, the protection of our talented young men and women, who have found great comfort, escape and renewed hope in the industry.

The industry has become a breeding ground for failed promises, denied dreams and stolen future through unsustainable leadership centred on selfish intents, personal aggrandisement and immediate gratification at the cost of larger good as well as a better future for all.

Coming back to the recent discussions I had on the entertainment industry, different thoughts have been shared about the rather unfortunate news of the tragic passage of Nigerian rapper, singer, and songwriter Oladimeji Promise Aloba, best known as MohBad.

Since the very tragic and premature exit of Mohbad hit the internet, varying thoughts have emerged as to what could have led to such a rising star being cut down in his prime. 

Without prejudice to the ongoing police investigation on Mohbad’s death, this article, seeks to serve as a public commentary on the bullying culture in the entertainment industry and failed policy in Nigeria.

This article would also make recommendations on how best to tackle the bullying culture and drastically reduce incidences of bad policing in Nigeria.

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MOHBAD, SAM LARRY AND THE POLICE

On account of the video being widely circulated online showing MohBad being bullied by Samson Erinfolami Balogun, also known as Sam Larry, during a video shoot with Zlatan Ibile, a school of thought emerged arguing that the deceased’s death could have been avoided if more diligence was applied by our security agencies (statutorily saddled with the responsibility to protect lives and properties).

Mohbad deserved to be reasonably protected against his bullies and assailants.

The reason for this position will likely not be far-fetched from the dereliction of duty by the security agency saddled with the responsibility of protecting human lives but rather chose to play politics with Mohbad’s petition, ignored the call for action and went further, quite disturbingly, to honour a later dated petition of a rather curious nature from the artiste’s assailants (a petition that should never have taken precedence over that of the deceased).

One then understands the sentiment that Mohbad’s death could have been largely averted if our men and women in uniform did their job dutifully well as sworn in the oath of service they took, refused to be complacent and swiftly rose to the occasion when approached to save the deceased’s life and protect him against his named assailants.

In the petition dated June 27, 2023, and addressed to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, The Nigeria Police Force, Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Alagbon Close, Ikoyi, Lagos, Mohbad alleged threat to his life further to criminal assault occasioning grievous bodily harm.  

The allegations made by Mohbad via his June 2023 letter (barely three months before his unfortunate demise) were justifiable grounds to have investigated the persons of interest named in the petition. However, it would appear that the deceased’s plea to the men and women in uniform fell on deaf ears.

The police perhaps ignored the petition on the account that Sam Larry and his team had in the past boastfully claimed to be closely linked to Oba Elegushi, whose office, upon the demise of Mohbad and public call for justice be done on account of the artiste’s premature death, publicly debunked such affiliation or connection by expressly denying any known association with Sam Larry and team.

In disclaiming any link between Samson Balogun (Sam Larry) and the royal family whatsoever, the release from Oba Elegushi’s spokesperson would go on to say that Sam Larry, “Like other celebrities, politicians, religious and community leaders…visit…to pay homage…to the king and seek royal blessings just like other members of the public.”

The Palace would then go on to lend voice to the call for “a thorough investigation into circumstances surrounding his (Mohbad) death with a view to unravelling any foul play.”

Arguably, circumstances surrounding Mohbad’s death are such that could be ascertained from those who were with him as his last moments, and the autopsy that was carried out after his demise which is best verified and double checked by independent experts representing public interests.

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Other factors to be considered are the incidents that happened in the weeks or few months before the artiste’s death. These include circumstances narrated in his petition to the Nigeria Police Force in June 2023, as well as videos circulated online of him being assaulted by Sam Larry and his entourage while on a video shoot with Zlatan Ibile. Another video that needs to be examined was one that showed the deceased trying to regain composure after another assault on him by his assailants.

Also, songs released by Mohbad, on the ordeal he suffered in the hands of his assailants ought to be critically analysed and investigated.

To the average Nigerian, and following a review of events that led to the untimely demise of the artiste, it may not be out of place to call out the men and women in uniform, for their failure to rise to their statutory duties.

Even more concerning is the fact that our men and women in uniform chose to place more priority on protecting Mohbad’s assailants (Sam Larry and his team as captured in Mohbad’s petition). Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, is also a person of interest in this regard.

It is perhaps for this reason that some Nigerians have continued to express doubt as per the objectivity of the investigation being done on Mohbad’s demise when in actual fact, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) itself ought to have been made to face a panel of inquiry as to the role they played in the artiste’s death. This is on the account of the force’s inaction when called upon by the deceased for protection against his assailants.

To the average Nigerian, Mohbad was failed by the people who ought to have protected him (including our security agencies).

One may not be wrong to assert that the society also failed Mohbad.

The society has a duty to protect each individual in exchange for choosing a civil society conducive to all interests, and for being bound in an implied contract executed, and enforced by the constituted authority of a Sovereign, with a view to avoiding the brutal state of nature that man is naturally wired to.

It is, however, no news that man’s default state of nature is generally intolerable. This explains the reason rational men are willing to submit themselves to constituted authority in order to escape it.  

But then, one begins to question the existence of the social contract theory in societies like ours where those saddled with the duties to protect one from other men’s crude nature sleep while at it or better still, choose to turn a blind eye to injustice that could occasion one’s death. Often times, they wait till such a person dies before waking up to their responsibilities.

MOHBAD, MARLIAN MUSIC AND SAM LARRY

A careful review of online reactions to Mohbad’s death revealed that Mohbad’s shining light was abruptly dimmed and cut down in his prime allegedly on account of irreconcilable differences.

Though Naira Marley, the deceased’s former record label boss, has come out to debunk the accusations of bullying made against him, one begins to wonder if claims made that Mohbad was not mentally stable was true.

The “Soapy” crooner had consistently claimed the deceased was mentally unstable, attempting to divert attention from the consistent “acts of bullying” the artiste had been said to suffer in his hands. Acts that pose as constant threats to a human lives could ordinarily lead to living in perpetual fear and the story was not different in Mohbad’s case.

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Efforts made to analyse the lyrics of some of the songs released by Mohbad, and an interview he had had on a radio station where he was asked to advice upcoming artistes, revealed he was of sound mind.

Unfortunately, Mohbad ended up becoming a victim of a seemly organised system that bully and intimidate rising stars who have found their voices and choose to exercise their God-given freewill in producing nothing but pure music laced with genuine emotions.

Mohbad’s crime was attempting to survive life’s treacherous moments by thinking it was sufficient enough to submit a petition to the police, sing about his life-threatening experiences and hope by some providence, he would be delivered from his oppressors before it was too late.

For choosing to depict strength through peaceful means and utmost respect for the sanctity of the social contract in a society that places priority on the power of money and allure of power, he was denied the chance to see his child grow, enjoy the fruits of his hard-earned royalties and witness the world celebrating the shining star and leading light in the entertainment industry that he was.

Contrary to last minute efforts made by Naira Marley to make it seem that all was well as regards his relationship with Mohbad, there is a general belief that all had never been well between the two. This could be linked to the constant acts of bullying Mohbad had suffered in his hands.

As for Sam Larry’s feeble attempt to make the accusations made against him go away by saying Mohbad owed him some money for not performing at a show organised by him, one wonders why he resorted to crude and brutal means in “getting his money back” in a civilised society.

Quite strange is the fact that the same Sam Larry would turn around to write a petition against Mohbad in August 2023, after Mohbad had written to the police in June 2023, asking to be protected from Sam Larry and his fearsome team.

As often said by my Yoruba mum – aje ke lana, omo ku loni, tani ko mo pe aje ana lopa omo oni? (the witch cried yesterday or made a fuss the other day and the child died today; who would not think or come to the conclusion that the witch that cried yesterday was responsible for the death of the child who passed on today?”).

The Yoruba saying perhaps finds support in one of the well established principles of law best known as the “eggshell skull rule” which basically creates a liability on a person who does any act that hastens the death of a person even if such person were to have a disorder or disease or death arising from another cause, is deemed to have killed the person.

CONCLUDING REMARKS: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

Undoubtedly, the rather unfortunate demise of Mohbad again brings to fore the need for a proper regulation of the entertainment industry in Nigeria and the enactment of a law to protect artistes entering into entertainment industry related contracts so as to drastically reduce unfair contract terms.

There is also a need for increased public interest in the entertainment industry and the protection of young artistes against bullying in the industry, while putting in place, effective measures to safeguard them.

The police need to be awake to their responsibilities, take very seriously the oath they took to protect lives as well as to do justice to all manner of men and women without fear of favour.

Lastly, there is the need for a proper re-orientation for security agencies, independent citizens watch and increased accountability measures for our uniformed men and women with punitive measures for those who fail to protect citizens when called upon.

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One is forced to argue that the duty to protect lives and as entrenched in the statute is akin to the duty of care imposed on medical experts to exercise diligence in saving lives and where a medical expert is found not to have exercised the best judgment, a case may be instituted for criminal and/or tortious negligence.     

In all, it is hoped the police will eventually restore faith in Nigerians by leaving no stone unturned while investigating Mohbad’s death. In the end, we all want a working Nigeria that renews hope.

Joseph Onele is a lawyer and can be reached via thejosephonele@gmail.com
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