In his judgment, Justice Omotosho stated that the suit lacked merit and was devoid of credible evidence. He criticized the lawyers involved for submitting what he termed "frivolous and baseless" claims that waste the court's time.
"This suit is devoid of credible evidence and thus without merit," he declared. The case was initially brought by the Registered Trustees of Break the Silence Foundation, which had sought a judicial review and an order compelling the police to reopen the investigation into Mohbad's death, which occurred on September 12, 2023.
The court noted that although the NGO argued that the police's initial investigation was inadequate, it failed to submit the original investigation report to substantiate its claims. The judge pointed out that without this crucial document, the assertions made by the NGO were merely speculative.
"The applicant's failure to attach the first investigation report makes their claim conjectural and unproven," Justice Omotosho stated. He emphasized that mere assertions cannot support a legal claim.
The judge also took the opportunity to admonish lawyers for making public statements about ongoing cases. He stressed that such actions could negatively influence public perception and compromise the integrity of the judicial process.
Justice Omotosho warned that the court would not hesitate to take contempt action against lawyers who flout this directive by discussing ongoing matters in the media.
In closing, the court dismissed the suit for lack of standing and merit, effectively putting an end to the NGO's attempt to reopen the investigation into Mohbad's death.
The late musician's passing remains a topic of public interest, but for now, the legal avenues to pursue a fresh inquiry have been firmly shut.
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