Mohbad’s family demands disclosure of US laboratory for son’s DNA test

The family of late Nigerian singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has demanded the disclosure of the identity of a United States laboratory expected to conduct a DNA test to establish the paternity of his son, Liam.

The family also called for the postponement of the examination scheduled for Saturday, October 31, 2026, at Mainland General Hospital/IDH, Yaba, Lagos, pending clarification of concerns surrounding the testing arrangements.

The family head, Samuel Aloba, made the demands in a statement issued on Thursday, October 29, expressing concerns over plans to collect biological samples in Nigeria and send them to an undisclosed laboratory in the United States for analysis.

The family questioned whether the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, which it said was designated in a May 5 court order, would conduct the examination or merely collect and dispatch the samples abroad.

It argued that any arrangement that differs from the court’s directive should be properly explained and, where necessary, referred to the court for clarification.

The Alobas consequently demanded the full name and address of the proposed US laboratory, evidence of its accreditation and technical competence, as well as details of the procedures for collecting, preserving, transporting and analyzing the samples.

The family also requested safeguards to establish that the samples collected in Lagos would be the same specimens eventually received and examined by the foreign laboratory.

It further expressed concern over reports that the laboratory’s identity might only be disclosed to the court, insisting that confidentiality should not undermine transparency and accountability.

According to the statement, the family was not attempting to frustrate the judicial process or prevent the DNA examination but wanted assurances that the outcome would be scientifically credible and open to independent verification.

The statement said, “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 family also raised questions about the handling of biological samples during the post-mortem examination conducted after Mohbad’s death.

It claimed that enquiries suggested the laboratory to which samples from the earlier examination were reportedly sent had not received any specimen registered in the singer’s name.

However, the family acknowledged that the claims represented information from its own enquiries and were not findings of a court or independently established evidence of wrongdoing.

Reaffirming its support for a credible DNA examination to resolve the paternity dispute, the family urged the relevant authorities to address its concerns before proceeding.

It requested that the exercise be postponed until the outstanding issues were clarified, all parties and their legal representatives received adequate notice, and further court directions were obtained where necessary.

Since his death, the paternity of Liam has remained a subject of dispute involving the singer’s father, Joseph Aloba, and the singer’s widow, Omowunmi Aloba.

The disagreement over the DNA examination has continued despite previous court orders directing that the test be conducted to establish the child’s biological paternity.