Mohbad’s widow bows to pressure, agrees to DNA test

Omowunmi Aloba, the widow of the late Nigerian singer and rapper, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has expressed her willingness to conduct a DNA test to establish the paternity of their only son, Liam.

This decision comes in response to a lawsuit filed by Mohbad’s father, Joseph Aloba, who sought court intervention for the DNA test on his grandson.

According to reports from News360 Nigeria, the legal team representing Joseph Aloba had filed an application requesting a DNA test and sought permission to serve Omowunmi through alternative methods due to previous unsuccessful service attempts.

Following this, the Magistrates Court in Ikorodu, Lagos State, advised both parties to explore alternative dispute resolution options, although the negotiations initially failed to yield an agreement.

However, in a recent development, Monisola Odumosu, a representative of the family’s legal team, confirmed that Omowunmi had agreed to proceed with the DNA test.

Odumosu noted that both parties have drafted settlement terms, which were adopted by the court as its judgment.

Per the agreement, the DNA test will be conducted at an accredited medical facility within Lagos or an approved location outside the state. Mohbad’s father has committed to covering all associated costs.

This settlement brings a resolution to the family’s legal pursuit, allowing the DNA test to move forward under mutually agreed terms.

“In the terms filed before the court, the respondent, Wunmi Aloba, consented to submit herself and her son, (Master Liam Aloba), for the conduct of a Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) at Two (2) recognised and accredited government or private medical facilities within Lagos State or other agreeable hospital outside Lagos State. In turn, the applicant, Mr. Joseph Aloba, agreed to bear the cost of the DNA test processes, including the fees for the testing facility, the collection of samples, and any associated legal or administrative fees.

“The court further ordered that the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) test be conducted at a mutually agreed-upon laboratory or medical centre within Nigeria. To ensure and ascertain the reliability of the test, the court further appointed some officers to supervise the process of the DNA test,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, according to the statement, the court also ordered that both parties should bear their respective costs regarding this case except the processing of the DNA tests the applicant undertook to bear.

Mohbad died at the age of 27, with circumstances surrounding his death sparking controversies on social media.

Being a former record label signee of Marlian Music owned by Naira Marley, Mohbad left the label in February 2022. The Lagos State Police Command had on September 18, 2023, inaugurated a 13-man special investigation team to probe the singer’s death.

His death also led to the arrest of Naira Marley and controversial Lagos socialite, Balogun Eletu, also known as Sam Larry, amongst others.

The body of Mohbad was on September 21, 2023, exhumed for autopsy to unravel the cause of his death.

Meanwhile, some observers from various countries have raised concerns over the coroner’s inquest into Mohbad’s death, citing alleged unfair proceedings and potential suppression of evidence.

The group, in a statement on Sunday, stated that they were advocating truth, fairness, equity, and accountability, and had been monitoring the court sitting at Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria.

The observers expressed reservations about adjournments of the proceedings and other factors they alleged threatened justice for Mohbad.

During the cross-examination of Mohbad’s widow, Omowunmi Adebanjo, the observers also alleged that counsels were constantly interjected and prevented from gathering desired information.