A magistrate court sitting in Ikorodu has approved the conduct of three separate DNA tests abroad to establish the paternity of Liam, the son of late Nigerian singer Mohbad.
Speaking after the court proceedings, Oladayo Ogungbe, counsel to Joseph Aloba, the singer’s father, disclosed that two of the tests would be carried out in laboratories in the United Kingdom, while the third would be conducted in the United States.
According to Ogungbe, the court selected three accredited DNA centres to ensure transparency and fairness in the process.
“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,” he said.
He added that representatives of both parties, including Aloba and Mohbad’s widow, Wunmi, would be present to supervise the collection of samples.
“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,” Ogungbe stated.
He further explained that credible representatives would be appointed to oversee the process abroad.
“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.
“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,” he added.
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Mohbad passed away on September 12, 2023, after receiving an injection administered by an auxiliary nurse. He was buried the following day, but his remains were exhumed on September 21, 2023, to allow for an autopsy as part of ongoing police investigations.
However, the probe suffered a major setback in May 2024 after pathologists revealed that the cause of death could not be established due to advanced decomposition of the body.
Since then, Aloba has continued to insist on a DNA test to confirm the paternity of Liam before his late son could be reburied. In September, the Ikorodu magistrate court granted the request, ordering that the test be conducted at a government-approved laboratory.
But in October, Wunmi alleged that despite the court order, Aloba was attempting to delay and interfere with the DNA testing process.