Mohbad: Family lawyer raises concerns over labs chosen for DNA test

The legal team representing the family of late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has questioned the capacity of some laboratories selected to conduct an ongoing DNA test involving his son, Liam.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, counsel to the family, Oladayo Ogungbe, speaking on behalf of Mohbad’s father, Joseph Aloba, said concerns had arisen following preliminary checks on the technical capabilities of the chosen facilities.

According to the lawyer, a court order issued on February 24, 2026, mandated that the DNA test be carried out in three laboratories jointly agreed upon by all parties to ensure transparency. The selected labs include DNA Diagnostics Centre in Ohio, United States, nominated by the applicant; Alpha Biolabs in the United Kingdom, nominated by the respondent; and Advanced Histopathology Laboratory Limited, London, chosen by the court.

However, Ogungbe revealed that inquiries made ahead of sample collection indicated that two of the laboratories—Alpha Biolabs and Advanced Histopathology Laboratory Limited—may lack the capacity to perform post-mortem DNA testing involving tissue extraction from embalmed remains.

He said the issue had been formally brought before the court through an affidavit, noting that the applicant deemed it necessary to alert the court to the development.

The lawyer also rejected claims that his client deliberately selected unqualified laboratories, clarifying that only one of the facilities was nominated by the applicant. He maintained that Joseph Aloba remains committed to a transparent and scientifically credible process in line with the court’s directive.

A Magistrate Court sitting in Ikorodu, Lagos, had earlier ordered the DNA test to determine the paternity of Liam Aloba, the only child of the late singer. The order was granted by Magistrate Adefisoye Sonuga following an application filed by Joseph Aloba.

Mohbad, a rising Afrobeats star, died in September 2023 under controversial circumstances, sparking nationwide reactions and multiple legal disputes surrounding his estate and family matters. His son, Liam, was born in April 2023, months before his death, with the paternity issue continuing to draw public attention.