The family of late 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 determine the paternity of Liam, the singer’s son.
The family also called for the postponement of the examination scheduled for Saturday, October 31, at the Mainland General Hospital/IDH, Yaba, Lagos, pending clarification of its concerns over transparency and compliance with a court order.
In a statement signed by the family head, Samuel Aloba, and sent to PUNCH Metro on Thursday, the family said it was concerned about arrangements for the tissue-based DNA examination, particularly reports that samples would be collected in Lagos and sent to a laboratory in the US for analysis.
The family said it wanted clarification on whether the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, which it claimed was designated by a court order issued on May 5, 2026, would conduct the examination or merely collect and dispatch 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?
“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 read.
The family said no institution or party should unilaterally substitute a materially different arrangement for one contemplated by a subsisting court order without appropriate judicial clarification.The family also demanded the full name and address of the proposed overseas laboratory, evidence of its accreditation and technical competence, details of the testing procedure, and documentation showing how the samples would be collected, labelled, preserved, transported and examined.
It further requested a mechanism to verify that the samples collected in Lagos were the same ones received and analysed by the foreign laboratory.
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 recognises 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 said its concerns were not an attempt to frustrate the judicial process or prevent a scientifically valid examination but to ensure that the outcome could withstand independent scrutiny.
It expressed apprehension about possible interference, mishandling or manipulation of the process if adequate safeguards were not established before the examination.
However, the family clarified that it was not claiming that the proposed test had already been compromised or that manipulation had been established.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,” it said.
The family also linked its concerns to questions it had previously raised about the handling of biological samples during the post-mortem examination conducted in connection with Mohbad’s death.
It questioned the role of the pathologist involved in sample collection during the coroner’s inquest.
The family further claimed that information it received from its enquiries indicated that the laboratory to which samples from the earlier process were purportedly sent had not received them or any specimen registered in the name of Ilerioluwa Promise Aloba.
It stressed, however, that the assertions represented its account of the matter and required clarification and verification, adding that they were not findings of a court or independently established proof of wrongdoing by any individual or institution.
The family maintained that it supported a credible DNA examination capable of resolving Liam’s paternity but insisted that the identity of the testing laboratory and the chain of custody of the samples must be clear.
It called on the relevant authorities to address its concerns, provide the necessary information and ensure that the examination complied with the court’s order and accepted forensic procedures.
The family consequently requested the postponement of Saturday’s exercise until the outstanding issues were clarified, adequate notice was given to all parties and their legal representatives, and further directions were obtained from the court where necessary.
It said its objective was not to predetermine the outcome of the examination but to ensure that the eventual result was based on a credible and properly documented process.
The family added that the public interest in establishing the truth should not be undermined by avoidable uncertainty or a lack of transparency.
Mohbad died at 27 on September 12, 2023. Following his death, the Lagos State Police Command inaugurated a 13-man special investigation team to probe the circumstances surrounding his passing.
Earlier reports in 2024 indicated that Aloba, through legal representatives, filed an application at the coroner’s court in Ikorodu to determine the cause of Mohbad’s death and later demanded a DNA test to resolve the paternity dispute.
Punch
