Counter-petition: Sam Larry accuses Mohbad of contract breach, defamation

The PUNCH has obtained a copy of a counter-petition filed on August 1, 2023, by a music promoter, Samson Balogun, aka Sam Larry, alleging a breach of ₦7.5million contract by late singer, Promise Oladimeji aka Mohbad, sometime in the year 2022.

The PUNCH reports that Mohbad died on Tuesday at the age of 27. Mohbad’s management also released an official statement confirming his passing away.

The petition received and stamped by the Lagos Annex, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon, on August 7, 2023, was written through a law firm, Ibukun Olu-Jacobs & Co.

Sam Larry accused Mohbad of obtaining money under false pretence, breach of trust, character assassination, and giving false information to the police.

The petition read, “Petition against Promise Olamide (aka Mohbad) for obtaining money under false pretence, breach of trust, character assassination, and giving false information to the police: An urgent request to stop a manipulative criminal and to avert further damage to reputation.

“We refer to the above subject. We are counsel to Samlarry Elegushi (“Our Client”) on whose behalf and instruction we write this petition. Sometimes in February 2002, our client engaged the services of one Promise Oladimeji (aka Mohbad) to perform at his party in the United Arab Emirates between February 17 – 25, 2022, sequel to which Promise Oladimeji was paid as agreed, the sum of ₦2millions in addition to the purchase of Business Class return ticket, hotel accommodation bookings in Dubai, all totally not less than ₦7.5million. After collecting all the listed sums, Promise Oladimeji failed to attend and perform at the party as agreed, thereby occasioning a serious financial loss to our client and damage to his business and personal reputation due to the disappointing fans that left angrily after waiting for hours to enjoy the performance of the artist our client promised them.

“In early March 2022, our client reached out to Promise Oladimeji to demand a refund of the N7.5 million but the demand was rejected by Promise Oladimeji. When our client insisted on the refund, Promise Oladimeji resulted initially to abuse and insults and therouter to thereafter to threats of harm against our client. Any time our client runs into Promise Oladimeji at any event, he (Promise Olademeji) always ensures that our client is not left in any doubt of dire consequences that await him for daring to demand a refund of his money and expenses.

“The situation, however, took a dangerous turn when our client received an invitation dated July 10 2023 from FCIID Annex Lagos. When Our client honoured the invitation, it came as a rude shock to him that Promise Oladimeji had earlier petitioned the office of the AIG FCIID Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, on a series of fictitious, spurious and unfounded allegations including unlawful possession of firearms, threats to life, malicious damage, armed robbery and assault occasioning harm. In addition, Promise Oladeji alleged that on June 25 2023, our client in the company of other individuals while armed with guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons attacked him, dispossessed him of his valuables, damaged his recording equipment worth not less than ₦5million.”

Noting that Sam Larry was granted administrative bail by the police after making a statement, his lawyer added, “It is noteworthy that our client made his statement and narrated what actually transpired on the said date after which he was granted administrative bail. It is also noteworthy that aside from the facts, no single shred of evidence was provided by Promise Oladimeji to establish his spurious and unfounded allegations. Promise Oladinej had failed repeatedly to honour subsequent invitations by the FCIID while our client had always honoured the same.

“It is not in doubt, that the petition at the instance of Promise Oladimeji (aka. Mohbad) is but an intimidation to deter our client from recovering his hard-earned money and also to tarnish, damage and drag in the mud, the hard-earned reputation of our client built over the years.

“In view of the foregoing, we hereby humbly request the Assistant Inspector-General of Police FCID Annex, Alagbon, to as a matter of extreme urgency, cause a detailed, thorough, professional and unbiased investigation into all the issues and allegations as enumerated in order to unravel the truths and to ensure diligent prosecution of anyone found culpable. We look forward to your prompt response as always. Sincerely Yours.”

A copy of the counter-petition received by The PUNCH
A copy of the counter-petition received by The PUNCH

The PUNCH reports that the Lagos Annex, Force Criminal Investigation Department of the Nigeria Police Force, Zone 2, Alagbon, revealed that it invited Sam Larry and others, following the receipt of the June 27 petition by late singer, Mohbad, over alleged assault, amongst others.

The federal police department further noted that a lawyer to Sam Larry and the other suspects also wrote a counter-petition against Mohbad, alleging defamation of character, after the singer failed to show up to defend his case.

In an exclusive telephone interview with our correspondent Thursday night, the spokesperson for the Lagos Annex of the FCID, Oluniyi Ogundeyi, further revealed that the late singer, Mohbad failed to show up at the police station to adopt and defend his petition, and also provide proof of the allegations, to assist the police in prosecuting the suspects, if necessary.

This followed the emergence of a document, wherein the late singer reported a case of alleged threat to life, malicious damage, assault, and oppression, among others, against a music promoter, Samson Balogun, aka Sam Larry and others, in a petition to the FCID Annex, Alagbon, Lagos State.

In the June 27, 2023 petition, Mohbad alleged that Sam Larry and 15 others all armed, stormed the venue of a video shoot where the deceased and another artiste, Omoniyi Temidayo aka Zlatan Ibile, were working; and threatened to wreak havoc.

He added that they eventually destroyed equipment worth over N5 million at the scene, and assaulted him (Mohbad) before he narrowly escaped after sustaining injuries.

When contacted by our correspondent on Thursday night over the recent development, the Police Public Relations Officer, FCID Annex, Lagos, Oluniyi Ogundeyi revealed that the police could not act on the petition due to Mohbad’s refusal to come up and adopt, defend, and also provide evidence to support the allegations made by him.

Earlier, the Force PRO, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in an official statement entitled, ‘Mohbad’s Death: We Will Carry Out Diligent Investigation – FPRO,’ noted that the police was committed to a comprehensive investigation into the matter, adding that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police has been tasked to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death.

The PUNCH reports that controversial socialite Sam Larry has come under fire on social media after a video where he and some others were seen harassing late singer, Mohbad surfaced on social media.

In the video, Mohbad and Zlatan were on set for a music video when Larry stormed the scene with some boys targeting Mohbad who scampered away in fear. Zlatan, however, tried to save the situation as he stood up to Larry and his allies to forestall any attack or bullying on Mohbad.

The video left many Nigerians on social media furious as they stormed Larry’s Instagram page to attack him for bullying and threatening the late singer. Larry, who is said to be an ally of Naira Marley, has since deactivated his Instagram account following the torrents of cyber attacks received since the video emerged.

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