Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A major setback has hit the high-profile paternity case involving the late Nigerian Afrobeats star Ilerioluwa Aloba, known professionally as Mohbad, as two of the three laboratories sanctioned by a Lagos magistrate court have reportedly declined to conduct the DNA analysis needed to establish whether he fathered the child at the centre of the dispute. The development, confirmed by legal representatives for Mohbad’s family, deepens an already complex legal and emotional saga that has captivated public attention across Nigeria and beyond.
The paternity test was ordered on February 24, 2026, by Magistrate B.A. Sonuga of the Ikorodu Magistrate Court in Lagos State, following an application by Joseph Aloba, Mohbad’s father, who is seeking to verify the biological relationship between his late son and a child named Liam, born in April 2023, months before Mohbad’s tragic death in September 2023.
In trying to ensure transparency and scientific credibility, the court directed that DNA samples be analysed at three laboratories agreed to by all parties: DNA Diagnostics Centre in Ohio, United States, nominated by the applicant; Alpha Biolabs in Warrington, United Kingdom, nominated by Mohbad’s widow Omowunmi Aloba; and Advanced Histopathology Laboratory Limited in London, United Kingdom, selected by the court’s social welfare officer.
However, counsel for the Aloba family, Oladayo Ogungbe, disclosed that preliminary inquiries made with two of the court-approved labs — Alpha Biolabs and Advanced Histopathology Laboratory Limited — revealed that they do not conduct post-mortem DNA testing on embalmed remains, a specialised procedure required to extract genetic material from preserved tissue. The labs communicated this limitation to the applicant’s representatives before any samples were taken, prompting the lawyer to file an affidavit notifying the court of this technical barrier to compliance with its order.
Because Mohbad’s body was embalmed shortly after his death, traditional DNA tests — typically conducted with blood, saliva, or cheek swabs — are not appropriate. Instead, viable genetic material must be obtained from deeper tissue samples, which many laboratories do not routinely process or are not equipped to handle. This reality has placed the entire exercise in legal and scientific limbo.
The legal team representing Joseph Aloba has rejected public speculation suggesting that the father intentionally chose laboratories lacking the necessary capacity to stall the process. Ogungbe emphasised that the list of laboratories was the result of a tripartite agreement involving both sides of the family and the court, and that only one of the facilities was nominated by the applicant. He reiterated his client’s commitment to any DNA testing procedure that is transparent, scientifically sound, and compliant with the court’s directive.
The inability of two of the three laboratories to perform the test not only puts the DNA process on hold, it raises legal questions about how the court order will be implemented going forward. The parties may have to return to court to revise the list of competent facilities or adjust the directive to accommodate the scientific realities of testing embalmed human remains. Lawyers on both sides are understood to be studying next steps, and further hearings could be scheduled to determine how to proceed.
This latest snag comes against the backdrop of a prolonged and emotionally charged legal battle that began in the wake of Mohbad’s untimely death in September 2023, under circumstances that triggered widespread public outcry and calls for answers from law enforcement and the justice system. His passing at just 27 years old sparked protests, vigils, and sustained media scrutiny that propelled discussions about artist welfare, medical accountability, and the treatment of entertainers in Nigeria’s music scene.
The controversy over paternity rights has become deeply personal for the Aloba family and resonates with broader societal conversations about familial legitimacy, inheritance rights, and the role of scientific evidence in family courts. Joseph Aloba’s quest for a DNA test has been portrayed by supporters as a father’s attempt to secure identity, lineage, and closure for his grandson, while some critics argue that publicising such private matters risks prolonging familial discord and placing additional strain on those most directly affected.
Complicating matters further, Mohbad’s death has remained under investigation, with an autopsy and subsequent inquiries probing into its cause. Although much public attention has focused on the paternity dispute, questions about the circumstances leading to his death have continued to fuel debate, legal action, and demands for accountability across legal, entertainment, and civil society circles.
The DNA case itself illustrates the challenges inherent in cross-border forensic procedures, particularly when legal directives intersect with specialised scientific requirements that are not universally supported by all laboratories. It also underscores the limitations that current mortuary practices can place on judicial efforts to obtain conclusive biological evidence, especially in cases involving embalmed remains.
For observers of the case and members of the public who have followed the developments closely, the latest laboratory refusals reinforce the complexity of translating legal solutions into enforceable scientific outcomes. While the path ahead remains uncertain, the next phase of judicial proceedings is likely to focus on identifying suitable laboratories capable of performing the required test or adjusting court orders to reflect the practical constraints identified by the labs themselves.
As the legal dispute evolves, attention will also likely return to the broader issues raised by Mohbad’s death and the community’s search for justice — both in confirming biological relationships and in understanding the full circumstances surrounding his passing. For many, the resolution of the DNA test represents not just a legal milestone, but a step toward healing, truth, and accountability in one of Nigeria’s most watched celebrity family disputes.
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