Arrested suspect who treated Mohbad is not a registered nurse —Association declares

The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Lagos State Council, has denied that a registered nurse was arrested in connection with the death of popular singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.

The association made the clarification in a statement released on Saturday.

The body said it had conducted preliminary investigations and found that the individual reportedly taken into custody by the police for providing care to Mohbad was not a registered nurse.

NANNM also stressed the importance of professionalism in reporting and conducting the investigation into Mohbad’s death.

“The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Lagos State Council, expresses its deepest condolences to the family and associates of the late musician, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, during this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as we mourn his tragic passing.

“We fully support the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death and urge the relevant authorities to leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of justice for him.

“However, we must stress the importance of professionalism in reporting and conducting this investigation. NANNM is closely monitoring the situation with keen interest. Our preliminary investigations indicate that the individual reportedly taken into custody by the police for providing care to Mohbad is not a registered Nurse.

“We emphasise the critical need to verify the qualifications and professional status of individuals before labelling them as healthcare professionals,” the statement read in part.

“In Nigeria, to be recognised as a Nurse, one must complete a rigorous five-year Bachelor of Nursing Science program at a university, followed by an additional year of internship. Alternatively, one can undergo training at an accredited School/College of Nursing and become registered and licensed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

“We wish to clarify that the term ‘Auxiliary Nurse’ has no place within Nigeria’s healthcare system or its laws. An individual is either a qualified Nurse or an unqualified individual performing tasks beyond their competence.

“Furthermore, we call on the investigating authorities and the media to exercise caution and accuracy in their reporting during this investigation. We will not tolerate any misrepresentation of Nurses and the Nursing profession. We demand that all media outlets that inaccurately reported the arrest of a Nurse take immediate corrective action to rectify their stories,” the statement said.

The association expressed its deepest condolences to the family and associates of Mohbad and urged the relevant authorities to leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of justice for him.

Recall that Mohbad’s father, Aloba, raised concerns regarding the alleged injection administered by an auxiliary nurse to Mohbad before his passing, an issue that continues to stir controversy surrounding his death.

Aloba said, “According to what I heard from people, The only thing I can think of is maybe this auxiliary nurse that used to treat people which is a very bad idea. I do not know the kind of level the woman is.

“They said they called her to give him an injection and that is a very bad idea and that injection can result in any length. He had wounds but I do not know the kind of wounds he had.”