Mohbad DNA dispute: Lawyer questions suitability of laboratories for post-mortem test

The lawyer representing Joseph Aloba, father of late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has raised concerns about the DNA tests intended to determine the paternity of Mohbad’s son, Liam.

Oladayo Ogungbe said the laboratories selected for the exercise may lack the required capacity to conduct post-mortem DNA analysis, especially as the alleged father is deceased and his body was embalmed.

In a statement issued on Monday, Ogungbe explained that the nature of the test requires extracting DNA from tissue samples after death, a highly specialised process that must be handled by laboratories with the appropriate expertise.

He noted that the issue is still before a competent court but said misleading information circulating in the public domain made it necessary to clarify the situation using documents already submitted to the court.

According to him, the court on February 24, 2025 ordered that DNA tests be conducted in three laboratories jointly agreed upon by the parties, with a Social Welfare Officer supervising the collection and submission of samples to ensure transparency.

Ogungbe said the laboratories were not chosen solely by Mohbad’s father but were selected through a joint process involving both parties and the court.

He identified the laboratories as the DNA Diagnostics Center in Fairfield, Ohio, United States, proposed by the applicant; Alpha Bio Labs in Warrington, United Kingdom, proposed by the respondent; and Advanced Histopathology Laboratory Limited in London, United Kingdom, selected independently by the court through the Welfare Officer.

However, he revealed that inquiries made before sample collection showed that Alpha Bio Labs and Advanced Histopathology Laboratory Limited indicated they do not carry out post-mortem DNA testing involving embalmed bodies.

The lawyer added that an Affidavit of Facts has been filed in court to ensure transparency and protect the scientific credibility of the DNA testing process.

Ogungbe insisted that claims suggesting Joseph Aloba deliberately selected laboratories without the competence for tissue-based DNA testing are inaccurate.

He maintained that only one of the laboratories was proposed by his client, while the others were nominated by the respondent and the court, adding that Aloba remains committed to a transparent and scientifically reliable DNA testing process carried out in line with the court’s directives.