A magistrate court sitting in Ikorodu has officially authorised the conduct of three separate DNA tests abroad to finally settle the paternity dispute surrounding Liam, the child of the late Nigerian singer, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.
Following the court session, Oladayo Ogungbe, the legal counsel representing Joseph Aloba, the late singer’s father, revealed the details of the court’s decision. He stated that the tests will be conducted across three different laboratories located in the United Kingdom and the United States.
“The court has eventually picked three DNA Laboratory centres, two in the United Kingdom and one in the United States. One from us, one from them, and the court picked an independent one,” Ogungbe said.
The counsel explained the procedures that will be followed to guarantee transparency. He noted that representatives from both sides, including Aloba and Mohbad’s widow, Wunmi, will closely monitor the sample collection process. The court adjourned the matter to April 7 for a report on the sample collection.
“The matter has been adjourned to the 7th of April for us to report on the picking of samples. Prior before then, we would have made arrangements with the welfare officers to ensure that samples are taken, which will be supervised by the welfare officers, and it will be monitored. All the parties will be there when they take the samples,” the lawyer explained.
“What we are still going to ensure is that it is done, and that we are going to monitor the process of the collection of samples. If possible, each party would have to get a representative,” he added. “We need to get people from the location. We are not going to be there. We need a credible representative of the Aloba family at these centres.”
Mohbad passed away on September 12, 2023. His body was initially buried but was later exhumed by the police on September 21, 2023, for an autopsy. However, pathologists reported in May 2024 that the cause of death could not be determined due to the advanced decomposition of the body.
Throughout the investigation, Joseph Aloba has insisted that a DNA test must be conducted to establish the paternity of his grandson before the late singer can be reburied. The magistrate court initially granted his request in September, ordering a test at a government-approved facility. However, in October, Wunmi accused her father-in-law of attempting to manipulate and frustrate the DNA testing process.
