Popular music artiste, Owodunni Ibrahim, also known as Primeboy, has taken legal action against the Nigeria Police Force, accusing them of violating his fundamental human rights.
This development follows the Lagos State Police Command’s decision to declare him wanted on Wednesday, October 4, 2023.
The police made the announcement after Primeboy allegedly failed to respond to an official invitation regarding the ongoing investigation into the death of fellow singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.
Primeboy’s lawyer, Akinpelu Ogunbona, confirmed the lawsuit in a statement shared with The PUNCH, on Thursday.
Ogunbona revealed that the case had been filed at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on October 11, 2023. The lawsuit seeks several remedies, including the removal of Primeboy’s name from the police’s wanted list and a declaration that his designation as a wanted person infringes upon his right to human dignity.
Ogunbona stated, “Primeboy has sued the police via an originating motion filed before the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos on October 11. He prayed to the court for a couple of reliefs, some of which included a declaration that the special police gazette bulletin issued by the office of the IGP declaring Primeboy wanted was a contravention of Primeboy’s right to respect for the dignity of his human person. Primeboy also prayed the court to delist his name from the wanted list amongst other prayers.”
Primeboy found himself entangled in the controversy surrounding Mohbad’s death, which took place on September 12, 2023, when the singer died at just 27 years old.
Mohbad’s sudden demise sparked a whirlwind of reactions and conspiracy theories on social media, with Primeboy becoming one of the central figures in the case.
Mohbad had previously been signed to Marlian Music, the record label owned by Naira Marley, but he left in February 2022, citing differences.
Despite being declared wanted, Primeboy voluntarily turned himself in to the authorities within 24 hours of the police announcement.
The police, determined to uncover the truth behind Mohbad’s passing, launched a 13-member special investigation team on September 18, 2023, to probe the matter further.
This investigation has led to the arrest of notable individuals, including Naira Marley and Lagos socialite Balogun Eletu, also known as Sam Larry.
In an effort to fully understand the cause of Mohbad’s death, his body was exhumed on September 21, 2023, for an autopsy.
The case continues to attract widespread attention, as fans and industry figures alike await the findings of the investigation.
