Mohbad's Family Wants Details on US Lab for DNA Test

The family of late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, known as Mohbad, is asking for the name of a US laboratory that will carry out a DNA test for his son, Liam.

They also want the test scheduled for Saturday, October 31, at Mainland General Hospital/IDH, Yaba, Lagos, to be postponed until their questions about transparency and a court order are answered.

In a statement signed by the family head, Samuel Aloba, and sent to PUNCH Metro on Thursday, they expressed worries over how the tissue-based DNA test will be done. They are particularly concerned about reports that samples will be taken in Lagos and sent to a US lab for testing.

The family wants to know if the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, which a court ordered on May 5, 2026, will do the test or just collect and send the samples abroad.

"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?"

They added, "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 statement said.

The family said no one should change the plan without proper judicial clarification. They also want the full name and address of the overseas lab, proof of its accreditation, details of the testing process, and documents showing how the samples will be collected, labeled, stored, transported, and analyzed.

They also requested a way to confirm that the samples taken in Lagos are the same ones tested by the foreign lab.

The statement added, “The family has been informed that the identity of the proposed overseas laboratory may be disclosed only to the court. While the family recognizes the importance of protecting legitimate confidential information, confidentiality cannot be permitted to defeat the basic requirements of transparency, accountability and meaningful verification in a process whose outcome may have far-reaching legal and personal consequences.”

The family insisted that their concerns are not meant to stop the judicial process or block a valid examination. They want to ensure that the results can be checked independently.

They are worried about possible interference or mistakes if proper safeguards are not in place before the test. But they also made it clear they are not saying the test has been compromised or that there has been any manipulation.

“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 said.

The family also raised concerns about how biological samples were handled during the post-mortem exam related to Mohbad's death. They questioned the pathologist's role in collecting samples during the coroner’s inquest.

They claimed that information from their inquiries showed the lab that was supposed to receive samples from the earlier process had not gotten them or any specimen registered under Ilerioluwa Promise Aloba’s name.

They stressed that these claims are their side of the story and need verification. They are not findings of a court or proof of wrongdoing by anyone.

The family supports a valid DNA test that can clear up Liam’s paternity. But they want the testing lab’s identity and how the samples will be handled to be clear.

They urged the relevant authorities to address their concerns, provide the needed information, and ensure the test follows the court’s order and proper forensic practices.

The family asked for the test on Saturday to be postponed until these issues are sorted out, all parties are informed, and further directions from the court are obtained if needed.

They said they do not want to decide the outcome of the test but want to make sure the process is credible and well-documented.

The family also mentioned that the public's interest in finding the truth should not be affected by uncertainty or lack of transparency.

Mohbad died at 27 on September 12, 2023. After his death, the Lagos State Police set up a special investigation team to look into the circumstances surrounding his passing. Earlier reports in 2024 said Aloba, through his lawyers, asked the coroner’s court in Ikorodu to find out how Mohbad died and later requested a DNA test to settle the paternity issue.