A Lagos State Magistrate Court sitting in Ikorodu has given its approval for DNA paternity testing of Liam Aloba, the young son of the late Afrobeats sensation Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad.
The ruling, delivered during a recent court session, authorizes sample collection and analysis at three reputable laboratories abroad: one in the United States and two in the United Kingdom. This decision marks a key milestone in a dispute that has gripped public attention since the singer’s sudden death in September 2023.
Oladayo Ogungbe, counsel to Mohbad’s father, Joseph Aloba, briefed journalists outside the courtroom following the proceedings. He confirmed the court’s approval and outlined the carefully balanced selection process designed to promote transparency and impartiality.
“The court has eventually picked three DNA laboratory centers—two in the UK and one in the US,” Ogungbe stated. “One from us, the Aloba family; one from them, the widow’s side and the court picked an independent one.”
The arrangement allows each principal party—Joseph Aloba (Mohbad’s father) and Wunmi Aloba (the late singer’s widow and Liam’s mother)—to nominate one facility, while the court itself designated a neutral third laboratory to serve as an additional layer of verification. All parties are expected to be physically present during the sample collection process, which will take place under close supervision.
To safeguard the integrity of the procedure, welfare officers from the court will monitor the collection of samples from Liam, his mother, and other relevant individuals. The samples will then be dispatched to the approved international facilities for testing.
The paternity question has lingered as a deeply emotive and polarizing issue ever since Joseph Aloba publicly questioned whether Liam is biologically his late son’s child.
The demand intensified amid unresolved suspicions surrounding Mohbad’s death at his residence in Lekki, which triggered widespread outrage, protests, and calls for a thorough investigation into possible foul play.
Although an autopsy and coroner’s inquest have addressed aspects of the cause of death, the separate paternity matter has remained a distinct but emotionally charged thread in the broader saga.
Mohbad’s father has repeatedly linked the resolution of the DNA issue to other unresolved aspects of the case, including the final burial arrangements for his son, whose body has yet to be interred more than two years after his passing.
Following the ruling, the court adjourned the matter to April 7, 2026, when further proceedings—including updates on the sample collection and eventual results—are expected. The date gives the parties and court officials adequate time to coordinate logistics for the international testing process.
Legal observers note that the decision to use multiple overseas laboratories reflects the high stakes and public scrutiny involved, aiming to produce definitive, tamper-proof results that can withstand any future challenges.
For now, the ruling offers a structured path forward in a case that has symbolized grief, mistrust, and the quest for truth in the aftermath of a young star’s tragic and untimely exit from the music scene.
As April approaches, many Nigerians—and fans of Mohbad worldwide—will be watching closely for the outcome that could finally settle one of the most persistent questions hanging over his legacy.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
A Lagos Magistrate Court in Ikorodu has approved DNA testing for Liam (Mohbad’s son) at three independent laboratories abroad—one in the US and two in the UK—with each side (Mohbad’s father and widow Wunmi) choosing one lab and the court selecting a neutral third lab. Sample collection, supervised by court welfare officers and with all parties present, is scheduled for April 7, 2026.
