The recently concluded coroner’s inquest into the death of Nigerian artist Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has reignited public discourse around medical negligence, legal framework, proper police investigation and systemic failure in Nigeria’s healthcare sector. However, while the findings acknowledge significant gaps in Nigeria’s forensic and medical capabilities, it would be dangerously misleading to attribute Mohbad’s death to medical malpractice by a unlicensed health professional.
This case, in truth, exposes a deeper and more troubling reality: a culture of domestic irresponsibility, public ignorance, and the growing prevalence of unregulated quackery in Nigeria’s healthcare landscape.
According to the coroner’s proceedings, the individual identified as Feyisayo Morenikeji Ogedengbe, who administered an injection to Mohbad, is not confirmed to be a certified nurse by any recognized professional body. She herself, under oath, stated that if blame is to be apportioned, it lies squarely on the late singer’s partner, Omowunmi Cynthia Adebanjo a statement that cannot simply be dismissed as deflection. It raises serious questions about decision-making within the household during Mohbad’s final hours.
The testimony of Mohbad’s driver further revealed a disturbing timeline. At approximately 3:00 a.m., shortly after returning from a show, three individuals from the residence approached him to help locate a pharmacy. Unaware of the gravity of Mohbad’s condition, he declined. Yet, no ambulance was called, no hospital contacted, and no urgency shown. Instead, treatment was delayed until the following day—when a person of unverified credentials was brought in to administer drugs without a prescription. This was not an unfortunate oversight. It was a clear, conscious choice and some have argued if it could be premeditated.
Defenders of these actions like his partner, Omowunmi Cynthia Adebanjo have claimed that Mohbad “didn’t like hospitals,” but this argument does not withstand scrutiny. Numerous video clips show the late singer receiving care at medical facilities in the past. He was not averse to professional medical treatment. What occurred was not the result of personal preference—it was the result of poor judgment at a critical time.
It is important to distinguish between systemic issues and individual accountability. While Nigeria’s health system suffers from chronic underfunding, infrastructural decay, and an acute shortage of professionals, these do not absolve individuals of responsibility for the decisions they make in urgent situations. Mohbad’s case is not about the failure of a qualified doctor or nurse. It is about those closest to him choosing unqualified alternatives.
The coroner’s observation that the administration of medication without a doctor’s prescription violates medical ethics is valid. But context matters. This wasn’t a hospital error. It was an illegal intervention in a private home, carried out by someone who may not even be qualified to offer basic care. That is not professional negligence—it is quackery. It is a form of medical fraud that, unfortunately, thrives in Nigeria due to weak regulation, public desperation, and social media-driven image branding.
In Nigeria today, the rise of self-styled “nurses,” “doctors,” and “consultants” has created a dangerous gray area in healthcare delivery. Many of these individuals have no certified training, but they have mastered the art of persuasion. They dress the part, speak the language, and often appear more accessible than established medical institutions. It is not just the poor and vulnerable who fall prey to them. Even celebrities are not immune.
This trend is exacerbated by a lack of public education on healthcare access, and an overreliance on home remedies, injections, and informal medical solutions. The tragic irony is that Mohbad, despite his fame and resources, became a victim of the same quackery that haunts countless households across Nigeria.
The takeaway from this tragedy must go beyond the emotional headlines. We must, as a society, confront the uncomfortable truth that too many Nigerians lack basic health literacy. Families do not know when to call an ambulance. They do not know who is legally permitted to provide care. And worse, they trust familiarity and convenience over competence.
If justice is to be served, the right questions must be asked:
Why wasn’t an ambulance called the moment Mohbad became visibly unwell?
Who vetted the credentials of the person called to inject him?
Why was there such a dangerous delay in seeking appropriate medical help?
Why was the body not deposited in the morgue as adviced by the second hospital, Perez Medicare hospital who certified him brought in Dead (BID)?
Yes, the Nigerian health system needs urgent reform. But in Mohbad’s death, the failure lies not in a hospital ward or a doctor’s office. It lies in a home filled with indecision, misinformation, and misplaced trust.
Let this case serve as a wake-up call to both the authorities and the public. Regulatory bodies must crack down on medical impostors with urgency. Public enlightenment campaigns must intensify. And families, no matter how wealthy or educated, must understand that a medical emergency is not the time for trial and error.
Mohbad’s death was avoidable. Let us not rewrite the story by blaming unlicensed professionals or a quack nurse for a tragedy created by private negligence and public ignorance. The court of public opinion now has a duty to judge fairly and learn.
- Sulymam TikTok – @ Olayide Instagram – @Olayide.Official
