Some Port Harcourt residents and fans of the late singer had claimed that the police prevented them from gathering for a candlelight procession in his honor.

Despite the directive to cancel the #Justice for Mohbad procession, a few residents gathered at an alternate venue but later dispersed due to low turnout.

One of the organizers, identified as Gbemisola, refuted the police's claims. He stated that the State Commissioner of Police invited him to his office and asked him to call off the procession, despite the organizers officially applying for and receiving police approval.

Gbemisola expressed disappointment in the police's change of stance and explained that they had decided to postpone the planned procession to avoid disturbing public peace. Instead, they planned to hold a candlelight and tribute concert for the late singer at a private facility on Saturday. However, they were surprised when they received information that the Department of State Services (DSS) had asked them not to gather at all.

He stated, “We came to honor him (Mohbad) and give him our last respect. So, we wrote to them (the police), they received the letter, stamped it, and everything.

“So, the Commissioner of Police called and told me not to hold it, not to do any procession on the street.

“So, we had to shift it, and say since we won’t disturb public peace, let’s go to GRA, to a confined space at Edy’s Wine Bar and hold it.

“We have issued a press statement and sent out a new graphic design for Saturday. So, this evening, I heard that the DSS was at Edy’s Wine Bar telling us that we shouldn’t gather at all even tomorrow.

“And you know most of the people here didn’t get the information that it has been postponed to tomorrow. We were not on the streets. But the DSS was already at Edy’s Wine Bar saying we shouldn’t even hold it tomorrow.”

However, the spokesperson for the state Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disputed the organizers' claims, stating that the procession took place successfully.

Iringe-Koko added that although the organizers did not apply for approval, the Command provided them with security led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations.