Mohbad’s Family Seeks Postponement Of Liam’s DNA Test Over Transparency Concerns

The family of late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has called for the suspension of the DNA test for his son, Liam, slated for Saturday, citing lack of transparency and failure to comply with a court directive.

In a statement issued on Friday, the family insisted that the exercise, scheduled to hold at the Mainland General Hospital/IDH, Yaba, Lagos, be put on hold until the identity of the United States laboratory expected to carry out the analysis is revealed, as earlier requested.

According to the family, information available to them indicates that samples will be collected in Lagos and then flown to a US-based lab for examination, a development that has triggered concerns about how the tissue-based DNA test is being organized.

READ ALSO: FROM MALTA TO NIKKAH: L.A.X HOLDS SECOND WEDDING

The family is also asking for clarification on whether the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, which they said was designated by a court order dated May 5, 2026, will actually carry out the test or will only be responsible for collecting and forwarding samples abroad.

They questioned why samples should be taken overseas when the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre was allegedly ordered by the court to conduct the exercise, adding that they need to understand the exact function the centre will perform.

They further noted that if a foreign laboratory is to be engaged, the rationale behind such a decision should be made clear before the test is carried out, to enable all parties to comprehend the procedure.

“This raises a fundamental question that must be answered before the exercise proceeds: Is the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre itself going to conduct the examination contemplated by the court, or is it merely going to collect and dispatch samples to another laboratory?” part of the statement read.

“The distinction is material. Where a court has directed that a scientific examination be conducted at a particular institution, the parties are entitled to clarity regarding the manner in which that directive will be implemented. If the designated centre intends to rely on a foreign laboratory to conduct the analysis, the arrangement should be explained and, where necessary, presented to the court for clarification.”

The family contended that no party should alter the arrangement approved by the court without first obtaining permission or seeking clarification from the court.

They also demanded the name and address of the proposed American laboratory, evidence of its accreditation, details of the testing procedure, and safeguards to guarantee that the samples are handled properly and remain uncompromised throughout the process.

The family emphasized that its request was not aimed at halting the DNA test, but at ensuring the process is open, properly managed and trustworthy. It also raised fears that the samples could be compromised or tampered with in the absence of adequate protective measures.

It further disclosed that it was told the identity of the US laboratory might only be revealed to the court. The family, however, argued that withholding such information from them would hinder independent verification of the laboratory and the process, particularly given the legal and personal consequences the results could carry.

“In a matter as sensitive as Mohbad’s DNA, the result must not merely be announced; it must be demonstrably reliable. The integrity of the process must be capable of independent verification, from the point of sample collection to the final laboratory report,” the statement added.

The family also connected its worries to the handling of biological specimens during the post-mortem conducted after Mohbad’s demise.
It queried the role of the pathologist who collected samples during the coroner’s inquest and claimed that checks indicated the laboratory they were allegedly sent to had not received them or any specimen bearing Mohbad’s name. It however stressed that the claim had not been independently confirmed or validated by any court.

The family equally called on relevant authorities to address its concerns and ensure the exercise complies with the court order and standard forensic practices.

It therefore appealed for Saturday’s test to be deferred until the unresolved issues are sorted, all parties and their counsel are duly notified, and any required directives are secured from the court.

It noted that its objective is to guarantee a credible process and dependable results, not to influence the outcome.

Mohbad passed away on September 12, 2023, following an injection administered by an auxiliary nurse. He was interred the following day but exhumed on September 21 for autopsy.

In May 2024, pathologists disclosed that the cause of death could not be ascertained due to advanced decomposition of the body.

Since then, Joseph Aloba, Mohbad’s father, has declined to rebury his son until the paternity of Liam, the late singer’s child with his partner Omowunmi, is legally determined.

BY OUR REPORTER