Controversial social media personality, VeryDarkMan (VDM), has reignited debates over the circumstances surrounding the death of late singer Mohbad, with new claims that popular actress Iyabo Ojo and others allegedly attempted to frame Naira Marley, Mohbad’s former record label boss, for his death. VDM asserts that he obtained access to a WhatsApp group named “Concerned Citizens” where conversations about controlling the narrative around Mohbad’s death took place.
VDM claims that members of the group disregarded Mohbad’s father, Joseph Aloba, due to his persistent demands for a DNA test to confirm the paternity of Mohbad’s son, Liam. According to VDM, the test had been conducted in two hospitals, and those in the group chat were aware of the results. However, music producer Samklef, a member of the group, disputed VDM’s claim of paying over N20m to gain access to the private chat, suggesting instead that someone within the group leaked the information.
Iyabo Ojo has filed a petition against the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, alleging misconduct during her recent interrogation with Naira Marley and Sam Larry. Ojo claims that VDM was allowed into the interrogation room without her consent, leading to a breach of privacy and procedure. She has requested that the case be transferred to Lagos for more neutral handling. VDM had previously claimed that Ojo apologized to Marley and Larry for making unsubstantiated claims against them during the interrogation.
Cybersecurity expert Jerahmeel Madumere shed light on potential ways VDM could have accessed the private WhatsApp group chat. According to Madumere, it’s likely that VDM gained access through insider betrayal or social engineering rather than hacking WhatsApp itself, which is end-to-end encrypted. He explained that user-side vulnerabilities, such as compromising a user’s device or account credentials, could also allow unauthorized access.
Legal practitioner Tolu Babaleye noted that unauthorized access to private messages and chats is punishable under the new Cybersecurity Act. However, he clarified that such evidence could still be admissible in court if relevant to the case, even if obtained illegally. The Lagos State Police Command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed active enforcement of the Cybercrime Act.
Joseph Aloba, Mohbad’s father, stated that the family is waiting for a court order to conduct a DNA test on Liam. Aloba expressed skepticism about VDM’s claims, emphasizing that he would not accept any DNA results without a court order. He also declined to comment on leaked WhatsApp messages where Iyabo Ojo allegedly insulted him, citing the need to consult his lawyer.
