Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have effected the re-arrest of Mr. Ayobami Sodiq, popularly known as “Spending,” a close associate of the late music artiste Ilerioluwa Aloba, professionally known as “Mohbad.”
According to reliable police sources, Mr. Sodiq was apprehended in Lagos State last week and subsequently transferred to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, where he is currently being detained for further investigation.
A senior officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the matter, disclosed that the suspect’s re-arrest followed a formal petition requesting a re-investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the late Mohbad. The officer further confirmed that Mr. Sodiq was subjected to interrogation upon arrival and has since remained in custody.
The same source further revealed that Mrs. Omowunmi Aloba, the widow of the deceased, honored a police invitation and appeared before investigators at the FCID on Thursday and Friday, after which she was later released.
Confirming these developments, the Force Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, stated, “We have Spending in our custody. Mohbad’s wife is not here with us.”
Meanwhile, a human rights organization known as the United Advocates Group (UAG) has publicly claimed responsibility for initiating the petition that prompted the renewed police action.
In a statement issued through its legal counsel, Mr. Oluwatosin Adefajo, and sighted by our correspondent, the organisation commended the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for approving a fresh investigation into the controversial circumstances surrounding the singer’s death.
According to the statement, the IGP, via a memorandum referenced CB/7000/IGP.SEC/ABJ/Vol.740/195 and signed by DCP Asuquo Effiong on August 15, 2024, directed the Legal Section of the Force Headquarters to conduct a comprehensive review of the matter.
The Group further noted that it had earlier, on August 10, 2024, visited the Force Headquarters to formally submit a five-page petition seeking a thorough re-investigation of the case, in addition to a previous petition earlier filed by Mr. Joseph Aloba, father of the deceased, through his former legal counsel, Barrister Taiwo Odumosu.
Mr. Adefajo disclosed that the Group engaged extensively with the Force Public Relations Office and the Legal Unit, leading to an internal review and favorable recommendation to the IGP. He further expressed disappointment over the lack of cooperation from the FCID Panti Division and the Lagos State Police Command, which allegedly failed to provide official updates or release certified copies of prior investigation reports.
The Group stated that, to strengthen its advocacy, it obtained a copy of a public statement issued by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, from the National Library of Nigeria, which it submitted as part of its supplementary evidence.
Following its persistence and submission of additional petitions in March 2025, with further evidence supplied in April and May 2025, the Group expressed satisfaction that the Inspector-General of Police subsequently approved a fresh and independent investigation into the matter in April 2025.
It will be recalled that Mohbad, aged 27, and a former signee of Azeez Fashola (popularly known as Naira Marley), died on September 12, 2023, under controversial circumstances. In response, the Lagos State Police Command, on September 18, 2023, constituted a 13-man Special Investigation Team to probe the incident.
Furthermore, on July 11, 2025, the Coroner’s Court sitting in Ikorodu, Lagos State, recommended the prosecution of Ms. Fisayo Ogedengbe, a 37-year-old auxiliary nurse alleged to have administered a tetanus injection to the deceased shortly before his demise.#newsafro_
